VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, defenders Derek Cornelius and Doneil Henry, and midfielder Russell Teibert have been called up to Canada men’s national team for the Concacaf Nations League this September.
The group returns to international duty after each was called up to the Concacaf Gold Cup in June, helping Canada to a second-place finish in their group.
The quartet will be joined on the roster by Whitecaps FC Academy products Sam Adekugbe, Marco Carducci, Alphonso Davies, and Adam Straith.
In the inaugural Concacaf Nations League, Canada are grouped with Cuba and the United States in League A. The team with the best record following a home-and-away round-robin advances to the four-team semifinals in June 2020.
Canada open group play with a home match against Cuba at BMO Field in Toronto, ON on September 7, then a rematch three days later at Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands.
“It’s great to be back in Toronto because for many of these players it’s their hometown and an opportunity to show their best in the red shirt,” said John Herdman, Canada men’s national team head coach. “This squad of players are hungry for success and want to qualify for the Concacaf Nations League Final Four Tournament in June. We’ve put down some strong roots over the last 18 months in our cultural and tactical approaches and we will be doing everything in this series of games to take our country to the next level. We expect to face a tougher, more unified Cuban team that will post a stubborn resistance in September, so the boys will have to dig deep to find that level of performance that we had against them at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Crépeau has two appearances for Canada MNT, one of which was in the 2017 Gold Cup, subbing in to help seal the 4-2 group stage win against French Guiana.
Cornelius played every minute of Canada’s four matches in the Gold Cup, earning a Best XI selection during the group stage. He has eight caps under his belt, including four in Concacaf Nations League qualifying competition where he played the full 90 minutes in each, where Canada outscored their opponents 18-1.
Henry has 27 appearances for Canada, including three starts in this year’s Gold Cup. He made three starts in the Concacaf National League qualifying, helping man the Canada backline that allowed only one goal in those fixtures.
Teibert returns to international duty after making one start in two appearances during the Gold Cup. He has one goal in 25 caps.
CANADA SQUAD
GK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
GK- Marco Carducci | CAN / Cavalry FC (Calgary)
GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CB- Derek Cornelius | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CB- Doneil Henry | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CB- Adam Straith | GER / VfL Sportfreunde Lotte
CB- Steven Vitória | POR / Moreirense FC
FB- Samuel Adekugbe | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
FB- Juan Córdova | CHI / CD Huachipato
FB- Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC
FB- Kamal Miller | USA / Orlando City SC
M- Liam Fraser | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Los Angeles FC
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Samuel Piette | CAN / Impact de Montréal
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- David Wotherspoon | SCO / St. Johnstone FC
F- Tesho Akindele | USA / Orlando City SC
F- Lucas Cavallini | MEX / Puebla FC
F- Jonathan David | BEL / KAA Gent
F- Alphonso Davies | GER / FC Bayern München
F- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
F- Cyle Larin | BEL / SV Zulte Waregem
