FC Edmonton captain Nik Ledgerwood and academy graduate Amer Didic will provide experience and youth to the the Canadian Men’s National Team after being selected by manager Octavio Zambrano for Canada’s upcoming friendly in Toronto against Jamaica on 2 September. Zambrano has selected a pair of former Players of the Year and called in two debutants to the “A” squad for Canada’s return to BMO Field.
Canada will face the two-time CONCACAF Gold Cup runners up Jamaica as a re-match from the Canada-Jamaica quarter-final match at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
“When we play at home, we want to play good football and we want to pick up from where we left off at the CONCACAF Gold Cup,” said Octavio Zambrano, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “We want to continue to build on what we have established at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and that will happen every time we get together.”
“I’m excited because it’s going to be a great game,” said David Junior Hoilett, “It’s going to be my first time playing at home, so it will be a great feeling for me to go out and show my place in my home city.”
This marks the sixth international match between Canada and Jamaica in Toronto, with the most recent meeting a Canada 3:1 win on 9 September 2014. The two sides have also faced each other four times in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, with the two sides winning two matches each.
Canada are two-time CONCACAF champions, having won the CONCACAF Championship in 1985 and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000. In five matches under new head coach Octavio Zambrano, Canada’s international record is two wins, two draws, and one loss.
In 2017, Canada’s overall international record is three wins, three draws, and one loss in seven matches. Jamaica’s 2017 record is four wins, two draws, and four losses in 10 matches, including a second-place finish at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
1- GK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
3- CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
4- FB- Michael Petrasso | ENG / Queens Park Rangers
5- CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / New York Cosmos
6- M- Samuel Piette | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
7- FB- Samuel Adekugbe | SWE / IFK Göteborg (on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
8- M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
9- F- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
10- M- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
11- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
12- M- Alphonso Davies | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
13- M- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
14- M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Louisville City FC
15- CB- Amer Didic | USA / Sporting Kansas City
16- F- Anthony Jackson-Hamel | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
17- FB- Marcel de Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
18- GK- Jayson Leutwiler | ENG / Blackburn Rovers
20- M- Raheem Edwards | CAN / Toronto FC
21- M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
22- GK- James Pantemis | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
23- M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
24- M- David Choinière | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
25- M- Jay Chapman | CAN / Toronto FC