Strong U-20 performances earn Oduro call-up to senior women’s team

Christabel Oduro’s standout performance in helping Canada qualify for the U-20 Women’s World Cup has earned her a call to the senior team.

Oduro’s name was on the roster for the women’s team announced by the Canadian Soccer Association Monday. The Canadian women play Brazil on March 24 in Boston and then will be away to Sweden March 31, as Big Red continues to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics.

Oduro, who went to St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Brampton before going to the University of Memphis, will be part of the team while it is in Boston, but won’t make the trip to Sweden. Defender Marie Eve-Nault will also only be with the team in Beantown.

Oduro set up two goals and scored twice in the 6-0 win over Panama in the semifinals of the CONCACAF U-20 Championships. That semifinal victory booked Canada’s place in the U-20 Women’s World Cup — and put Oduro in line for a call up to the senior national team.

Oduro’s name was consistently mentioned on the CONCACAF match reports through the tournament. Now she will get the chance to show coach John Herdman that she’s worthy of a London call.

CANADA ROSTER
GK- Karina LeBlanc
GK- Erin McLeod
CB- Candace Chapman
CB- Carmelina Moscato
CB- Shannon Woeller
CB- Emily Zurrer
FB- Melanie Booth
FB- Robyn Gayle
FB- Marie-Eve Nault
FB- Lauren Sesselmann
FB- Rhian Wilkinson
D- Brittany Timko
M- Kaylyn Kyle
M- Christabel Oduro
M- Kelly Parker
M- Sophie Schmidt
M- Desiree Scott
M- Chelsea Stewart
F- Chelsea Buckland
F- Christina Julien
F- Christine Sinclair
F- Melissa Tancredi