Toronto FC Striker Eligible For Nigeria, USA Accepts Invitation To Train With Canada Senior Team

Published: December 24, 2020

Toronto FC striker Ayo Akinola has accepted a call-up to Canada's senior national team for a training camp scheduled to take place in Bradenton, Floraida, USA at the IMG Center in January 2021.

Canada coach John Herdman will fine-tune his strategies during the preparatory camp next month ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in March.

Akinola was born in Detroit to Nigerian parents but moved to Canada at the age of one, making him eligible to represent the national teams of Nigeria, United States and Canada.

The 20-year-old scored on his senior debut for the United States in a 6-0 rout of El Salvador this month but is not cap-tied to his country of birth as it was a friendly.

Having said that, he has played competitive matches for United States at U17 and U20 levels.

"He's got big decisions to make. We're very respectful of that," Canada coach John Herdman was quoted as saying by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

"The one thing he has wanted is that opportunity to experience Canada. There are some big pros and cons for the decision both ways, whether it's the U.S. or Canada.

"We've had a lot of conversations over the last seven, eight months and he's kept his word to come in with us, we'll just be ourselves and show him what Canada has to offer."

2020 was a breakout season for Akinola with nine goals in fifteen appearances in Major League Soccer.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : ussoccer.com

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