Canada Soccer has unveiled the senior men’s national team squad for the forthcoming March international window, as Les Rouges prepare to host Iceland and Tunisia in a series of highly anticipated pre-World Cup friendly matches at BMO Field.
Head Coach Jesse Marsch has notably included three players of Nigerian descent in his selection, further highlighting the diverse talent pool being integrated into the Canadian setup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The trio includes Crystal Palace loanee Owen Goodman, Plymouth Argyle forward Aribim Pepple, and Villarreal striker Tani Oluwaseyi.
Barnsley goalkeeper Owen Goodman has retained his place in the squad after formally committing his international future to Canada. The former England U20 international had previously been invited to a Flying Eagles training camp in January 2023 ahead of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations but declined the opportunity to represent Nigeria.
Whilst Goodman earned his maiden senior call-up for Canada’s November fixtures against Ecuador and Venezuela, he remained an unused substitute. He will be vying for his debut appearance between the posts during this Toronto residency.
Perhaps the most significant inclusion is that of Plymouth Argyle attacker Aribim Pepple. The Kettering-born forward has earned his first senior invitation following an exceptional run of form in which he has netted 14 goals.
Pepple’s international allegiance has long been a subject of interest; he remains eligible for both England and Nigeria and was previously invited to a Golden Eaglets training camp prior to the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup. Should he feature in a competitive capacity leading into the 2026 tournament, the prolific striker would be officially cap-tied to the Canadian national team.
Abuja-born striker Tani Oluwaseyi remains a core component of Marsch’s attacking options. The Villarreal man is already firmly cap-tied to Canada, having featured prominently during the 2024 Copa América.
However, the squad is notably missing former Nigeria youth international Promise David. The striker, who represented Nigeria at the U23 level before initiating a switch of allegiance to Canada, was omitted from the camp as he continues his recovery from a significant long-term injury that necessitated surgical intervention.
These fixtures against Iceland and Tunisia represent a vital phase of Jesse Marsch’s tactical preparation. With Canada serving as co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup, the integration of dual-national talents like Pepple and Goodman is seen as a strategic move to bolster the squad’s depth on the global stage.
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