Canada Soccer announces Men’s National Team squad for October

Canada Soccer has announced a 23-player squad for upcoming away Men’s National Team matches against Mauritania and Morocco. The two matches will be played during the FIFA international window in October in Marrakech, Morocco.

“It will be a vibrant and positive environment for training, competition, and learning,” said Michael Findlay, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Interim Head Coach. “Through our ongoing relationship and integration with our Men’s EXCEL Program, we have an exciting group of young players who will begin to solidify their spots for years to come.”

From the group of 23, young Anthony Jackson-Hamel get his first call up to the Men’s National Team. Jackson-Hamel of Impact Montréal FC was part of last year’s U-23 team at the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Along with Jackson-Hamel (23 years old), Marco Bustos (20), Jordan Hamilton (20), Fraser Aird (21), Samuel Piette (21), Doneil Henry (23), and Manjrekar James (23) are all 23 or younger. Jackson-Hamel, Aird, Osorio (24) and Tissot (24), meanwhile, are the four players getting their first call up in 2016.

Samuel Adekugbe (21), Jay Chapman (22), Will Johnson (29), Ben McKendry (23), Michael Petrasso (21), and Russell Teibert (23) were invited to camp, but unavailable through injuries.

As for veterans, Marcel de Jong, David Edgar, Simeon Jackson, and Adam Straith provide the core of experience with more than 30 international appearances each. Goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos is the longest serving member while Milan Borjan was Canada’s leader with five clean sheets in 2015. Scott Arfield of Burnley FC in England’s Premier League is Canada’s 2016 leader with three assists in five matches.

Said Findlay, “it is an essential part of the Men’s National Team’s player development strategy to have our veterans provide assistance and experiential guidance on and off the field of play to the younger players who are in the early stages of their international career.”

This will mark Canada’s first trip to Africa since November 2007 and their first match against an African opponent since a 1:1 draw with Ghana in October 2015 in Washington, DC USA.

In 2016, Morocco have posted five wins, three draws, and one loss in nine international matches. Morocco will face Gabon away on 8 October before facing Canada three days later.

Mauritania, meanwhile, have posted two wins, two draws, and one loss in five international matches this year. Canada last played Mauritania in a two-match series in September 2013.

Canada have two wins in their history against African nations, but also both a 0:0 draw and close 0:1 loss to Mauritania in 2013 as well as a 1:1 draw against Ghana in 2015. Against Morocco, Canada lost 2:3 in their first encounter in 1984, but then drew 1:1 in their second meeting on 1 June 1994.

CANADA
1- GK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt
2- FB / M- Fraser Aird | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
3- FB / M- Maxim Tissot | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
4- CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
5- CB- David Edgar | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
6- CB- Doneil Henry | DEN / AC Horsens
7- F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Walsall FC
8- M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
9- F- Marcus Haber
10- M- David Junior Hoilett
11- M- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
12- FB / M- Jamar Dixon | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
13- M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
14- M- Samuel Piette | ESP / CD Izarra
15- M- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
16- M- Scott Arfield | ENG / Burnley FC
17- FB- Marcel De Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
18- GK- Milan Borjan | BUL / PFK Ludogorets Razgrad
19- CB- Steven Vitória | POL / Lechia Gdańsk
20- CB / FB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / Jacksonville Armada
21- M / F- Jordan Hamilton | CAN / Toronto FC
22- GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK Fotbol
23- M / F- Anthony Jackson-Hamel | CAN / Impact Montréal

CANADA A-Z
Name | Birthyear | City in which he grew up | Active start (first club)
Aird, Fraser | 1995 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | North Scarborough SC
Arfield, Scott | 1988 | Livingston, SCO |
Borjan, Milan | 1987 | Hamilton, ON, CAN | Radnicki JP
Bustos, Marco | 1996 | Winnipeg, MB, CAN | Garden City Community Center
De Jong, Marcel | 1986 | Valkenswaard, NED | De Valk
Dixon, Jamar | 1989 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Gloucester Hornets SC
Edgar, David | 1987 | Kitchener, ON, CAN | Kitchener Minor SA
Haber, Marcus | 1989 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | Dunbar SA
Hamilton, Jordan | 1996 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | North Scarborough SC
Henry, Doneil | 1993 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Ontario Youth Soccer
Hoilett, David Junior | 1990 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Mississauga SC
Jackson-Hamel, Anthony | 1993 | Québec, QC, CAN | Impact Junior ARS Québec
Jackson, Simeon | 1987 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Clarkson
James, Manjrekar | 1993 | North York, ON, CAN | North York Azzuri
Osorio, Jonathan | 1992 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Toronto Futsal League
Ouimette, Karl W. | 1992 | Terrebonne, QC, CAN | CS Terrebonne
Piette, Samuel | 1994 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN | Lionceaux de le Gardeur
Ricketts, Tosaint | 1987 | Edmonton, AB, CAN | Edmonton Juventus
Stamatopoulos, Kenny | 1979 | Markham, ON, CAN | Markham SC (Lightning)
Straith, Adam | 1990 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC
Thomas, Simon | 1990 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC
Tissot, Maxim | 1992 | Gatineau, QC, CAN | CS Aylmer
Vitória, Steven | 1987 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Sudbury Lions