Ahead of November qualifiers
KRC Genk striker Iké Ugbo has committed his future to the Canada men’s national team. The 23-year-old striker is a Chelsea product and after several loan stints was sold to Genk for €3.5 million last summer. The forward, who was born in London, England, and has Nigerian roots will be called up to the squad that will face Costa Rica (Nov. 12) and Mexico (Nov. 16) in the upcoming Hexagonal qualifiers that will be played in Edmonton later this month.
“This is great news for Canada soccer’s men’s national team program and the country as he’s another young, top-level player with his best football years ahead of him,” CanMNT head coach John Herdman said in a statement. “He’s chosen to be part of this exciting journey starting with the World Cup qualifiers. We are looking forward to finally see him in that Canada red jersey.”
Ugbo recently represented England at the youth international level and was also eligible to represent Nigeria. Spending time in Canada as a youth, Ugbo played for Brampton East SC and Woodbridge Strikers in Ontario before heading to play for the Chelsea academy program. By committing to the Canadian national team, Ugbo becomes the fifth most valuable Canadian forward in the world.
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