CanMNT announces January squad, including Coimbra, Abatneh and Jimoh
The Canadian Men's National Team (CanMNT) named their 20-player squad for their upcoming January camp, including several names well known to CPL supporters across the country.
Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers), Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa) and Shola Jimoh (Inter Toronto) are all headed to California for Canada's camp before squaring off against Guatemala on January 17 for an international friendly. Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. and former Canadian international Doneil Henry have also been invited to camp and will work as support staff for CanMNT head coach Jesse Marsch.
Canada' January camp, said Marsch in the press release, is an opportunity for North America-based players to prove themselves ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June.
"We're excited to have an extra opportunity to have a (CanMNT) camp ahead of a massive year," he said. "We have a very talented squad of North American-based players who will be hungry to prove themselves. 2026 is going to be pivotal for Canada and for the program, let's be ready to seize the moment."
Nova Scotia's Jacob Shaffelburg was also named to the squad, not to mention Canadian regulars like Richie Laryea, Jonathan Osario and Mathieu Choinière, all of whom have featured consistently under Marsch's tenure. Former Atlético Ottawa full-back Matteo de Brienne, who currently plays with GAIS in Sweden, also earned his first senior call-up.
Coimbra's call-up comes on the heels of a breakout year which saw the Brazilian-Canadian win the Best Canadian U-21 Player award. He scored 13 goals across last year's campaign and tied the CPL's single-season record for most goals by a U-21 player. He is a former Canadian youth international.
The full squad includes:
GK - Luka Gavran (Toronto FC / CAN)
GK - James Pantemis (Portland Timbers / USA)
DF - Noah Abatneh (Atlético Ottawa / CAN)
DF - Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City / USA)
DF - Matteo de Brienne (GAIS / SWE)
DF - Richie Laryea (Toronto FC / CAN)
DF - Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (CF Montréal / CAN)
DF - Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers / USA)
DF - Ralph Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps / CAN)
DF - Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire / USA)
MF - Jeevan Badwal (Vancouver Whitecaps / CAN)
MF - Mathieu Choinière (LAFC / USA)
MF - Jayden Nelson (Austin FC / USA)
MF - Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL / MEX)
MF - Shola Jimoh (Inter Toronto / CAN)
MF - Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC / CAN)
MF - Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC / USA)
FW - Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers / CAN)
FW - Rayan Elloumi (Vancouver Whitecaps / CAN)
FW - Jacen Russell-Rowe (Columbus Crew / USA)
Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC
