Five players called up by their countries
We’re starting to know how it works: the Impact had no game scheduled last weekend, but it won’t be every player taking it a little easier than usual. The usual March international break will be the last one before the summer and the Concacaf Gold Cup, which will once again take place in the United States this year. It means that the five players called up by their respective countries will be looking to either qualify for a continental tournament or solidify their place within their national squad.
Samuel Piette and Zachary Brault-Guillard, Canada
Concacaf Nations League qualifier
Canada 4-1 French Guiana
Job done for the Canadian national team in Vancouver. John Herdman’s troops went into their fourth and last Concacaf Nations League qualifying game knowing they needed a win to secure a spot in the Gold Cup and ensure a berth in Group A of the Nations League, and they did just that.
After Canada opened the scoring early, a defensive lapse saw French Guiana tie the game in the first, but Canada was able to add two more goals before the break, putting the game out of reach. Samuel Piette and Zachary Brault-Guillard both started in this one.
Saphir Taïder, Algeria
Africa Cup of Nations qualifier
Algeria 1-1 The Gambia
Friendly game
Algeria 1-0 Tunisia
Not much to compete for here, as the Fennecs are already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, having also ensured top spot in group D. Algeria still came out of its qualifying game against the Gambia with a draw, consequently ending its hopes of qualifying to the continental tournament. Head coach Djemal Belmadi didn’t even need to use Saphir Taïder, the Impact midfielder being limited to the bench in this one.
The Impact’s midfielder did, however, see action in his team’s friendly game against Tunisia just a few days later, playing 90 minutes in a slim 1-0 win for the Algerian national team. The team will now meet again for the start of the African Cup of Nations on June 21.
Daniel Lovitz, United States
Friendly games
United States 1-0 Ecuador
United States 1-1 Chile
Things continue to go smoothly for Gregg Berhalter in his new role. After two clean sheet wins to kick off his first training camp with the Stars and Stripes, the former Crew SC head coach kept his streak going with another shutout win against Ecuador, last night at Orlando City Stadium.
Although right-back Daniel Lovitz played 90 minutes twice in his last call-up with the USMNT, he didn’t see action in the game against Ecuador, Berhalter opting to give 31-year-old Tim Ream the start.
He did, however, make an appearance in the second game against Chile, arguably Berhalter’s steepest test since taking over control of the American national team. After both teams exchanged goals early, they weren’t able to break through again, the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Lovitz replaced Corey Baird in 56th minute, helping keep things sound in defense to end the game.
Orji Okwonkwo, Nigeria U23
U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
Libya U23 2-0 Nigeria 23
Nigeria U23 4-0 Libya U23
The Impact’s young forward, Orji Okwonkwo, didn’t see any action in Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to Libya on Thursday. After the Libyans took an early lead, things got worse for Nigeria’s U23 team when goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar was sent off in the closing stages of the first half.
Lucky for them, they dominated the second leg, winning 4-0, this time with the Impact’s Orji Okwonkwo in the starting line-up. The young Nigerian team, with a 4-2 win on aggregate, moves on to round 3 of qualifying for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations, the next round pitting them against Sudan in early June for another home and away series.
