Photo Copyright Anne-Marie Sorvin for USA TODAY Sports
As the reigning Olympic champions prepare to defend gold in Paris this summer, they’re at a crossroads. Canadian national team manager Bev Priestman already has the next generation of footballers knocking on her door. But can they earn their spots on a limited, 18-player roster?
“The 18-player roster for the Olympics really hampers you in some ways,” Priestman explained to The Equalizer ahead of the 2024 Gold Cup. “If you take a 23-player roster then you’ve got three or four roster spots that you’re really investing in for the future. I think with an 18-player roster it’s very much about the now. What I am pleased to say is we’ve got some very young players that are performing and that helps.”
Midfielders Simi Awujo, Olivia Smith, and centerback Jade Rose are three players Priestman is really high on as part of that next wave. Awujo and Smith were on Canada’s roster at the 2023 World Cup. Rose was forced to withdraw due to an injury.
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