Soccer Nova Scotia’s Akindoju and Kennedy named to Canada U-15 Girls’ National Team Roster for CONCACAF Championships
Soccer Nova Scotia – HALIFAX (August 5, 2016) – A pair of Soccer Nova Scotia teammates will represent Canada at the 2016 CONCACAF Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Teni Akindoju and Sydney Kennedy will compete for their nation August 9 to 21, 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney in Orlando, Florida.
Halifax native Akindoju will be one of the most experienced players on the eighteen player roster. This past winter she helped Canada win a bronze medal at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Grenada and won a gold medal at the CONCACAF U-15 Championship in the Cayman Islands in 2014. Akindoju says she is looking forward to being alongside the best in her age group once again as Canada looks to defend its title.
“I’m so excited to be competing with girls my age at the international level,” says Akindoju, who plays club soccer with Halifax Dunbrack’s U16-girls team. “It’s going to be great competition and I’m looking forward to it.”
Kennedy, a fifteen-year-old Fletcher Lake native, will have her first opportunity to play for Canada at this competition. Along with Akindoju, Kennedy competes on the U16-girls Soccer NS provincial team and is part of the Soccer NS and Canadian Soccer Association Regional EXCEL program. Kennedy says the feeling was indescribable when she found out she would be making the trip to Orlando.
“When people ask me what my dream as a soccer player is, this is it – getting to represent my country,” says Kennedy, an attacking player with Suburban FC’s U16-girls team. “Growing up watching the Olympics, it’s always been my dream to be in that position myself. I’m glad I get to live that now.”
Canada will take the pitch for the first match of Group B versus Venezuela on August 9. Canada will also face Costa Rica, Jamaica and El Salvador in group play.
From 23 nations in the group phase, eight will advance to the August 16 quarterfinals. Semifinals will take place on August 19 with the winners advancing to the final on August 21.
2016 CONCACAF U-15 GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP GROUPS
Group A: United States, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Dominican Republic
Group B: Canada, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Jamaica, El Salvador
Group C: Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Santa Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Group D: Barbados, U.S. Virgin Islands, Curaҫao, Anguilla
Group E: Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas
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For more information and/or athlete photos, please contact:
Danielle Cyr