VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that defender/midfielder Fraser Aird, midfielder Marco Bustos, and defenders Marcel de Jong and David Edgar have been called up to the Canadian senior men’s national team for an upcoming camp and pair of friendlies.
Sam Adekugbe, who is on loan at English Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Ben McKendry, and Russell Teibert also received invites, but will not participate due to injury.
Canada will face Mauritania on October 7 and Morocco on October 11, with both matches being played in Marrakech, Morocco during the FIFA international window.
The ‘Caps foursome will join the national team following Sunday’s Cascadia derby with Seattle Sounders FC (5 p.m. PT on TSN2 – tickets still available) and return ahead of Vancouver’s match in San Jose on Sunday, October 15.
Edgar and de Jong return to the national team after most recently featuring in Canada’s World Cup qualifiers vs. Honduras and El Salvador. Edgar, who now has 39 caps with the senor national team, scored for Canada in a 3-1 win over El Salvador at BC Place, while de Jong played the full 90 minutes in both matches to earn his 46th and 47th caps.
Aird (21), meanwhile, earns his first call-up since November 2015, while Bustos (20) rejoins the senior team after participating in a camp in February. He is the youngest player on Canada's 23-man squad. Both Aird and Bustos made their first and only appearances with the senior national team in last year’s 1-1 draw with Ghana.
This will mark Canada's first trip to Africa since November 2007 and their first match against an African opponent since the aforementioned draw vs. Ghana.
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
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver. Get 12 per cent off 2017 Whitecaps FC Full Season Tickets from Sept. 22 - Oct 3. Click here for more information.