Forwards Daniel Jebbison and Promise (Tobi) David, coach Jesse Marsch’s newest recruits, have been included in Canada’s 23-man roster for the CONCACAF Nations League Finals.
Jebbison, who plays his club football for Bournemouth in England’s Premier League, previously represented England at the under-18 and U-20 level while David, who is with Belgium’s Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, played for Nigeria’s under-23 team.
Both have now committed to Canada.
The 31st-ranked Canadian men face No. 19 Mexico in one Nations League semifinal while the 16th-ranked U.S. take on No. 36 Panama in the other. Both matches are March 20 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The final and third-place game are scheduled for March 23 at the same venue.
The games are the first for Canada since mid-November when it beat No. 138 Suriname 4-0 on aggregate in the two-legged Nations League quarterfinal.
“We’re ready for another big challenge for this group heading into a competitive tournament,” Marsch said in a statement. “The depth in the squad has improved significantly, leaving us some tough roster decisions. However, we know that this group of players will give us an outstanding opportunity to compete for the trophy.”
Prize money
The tournament is worth $2 million US to the winner with the runner-up collecting $1 million. Third place is worth $600,000 with $200,000 going to the fourth-place side.
Canada placed fifth (2019-20), second (2022-23) and fifth (2023-24) in the three previous editions of the CONCACAF Nations League. The U.S. are three-time champions with Mexico twice runners-up.
Marsch’s 23-man roster features eight players from Major League Soccer including Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio and Richie Laryea, CF Montreal’s Joel Waterman and the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Ali Ahmed.
Veterans include captain Alphonso Davies, defenders Alistair Johnston and Richie Laryea, midfielders Tajon Buchanan and Stephen Eustaquio and forwards Jonathan David and Cyle Larin.
But the focus will be on the new faces.
Jebbison, 21, joined Sheffield United in 2018 and scored three goals in 35 appearances for the club across all competitions, between loan spells at Burton Albion and Chorley.
He signed a four-year deal with Bournemouth last July after his contract with Sheffield United expired at the end of the season. Jebbison was sent out on loan to Watford in England’s second-tier Championship before being recalled in late January.
David was born in Brampton, Ont., to Nigerian parents. He lived in Nigeria for four years as a child and had a stint with the Toronto FC academy when he returned, eventually playing for Vaughan Azzurri.
The 23-year-old has played club football in Croatia with NK Trnje, in Malta with Valletta FC and Sirens FC, and Estonia with Kalju FC.
Jebbison, who was born in Oakville, Ont., and attended the ANB Futbol academy in suburban Toronto from age six to 14, is the youngest of three brothers (along with Micah and Jonathan).
Jebbison’s father Patrick was an accomplished athlete in his own right, named the top Canadian university basketball player in 1987-88 and 1988-89 while at Brandon University. He led the Bobcats to three straight national championships (1987, ’88 and ’89) and played for Canada at the 1989 World University Games and 1991 Pan American Games.
Mother talented track athlete
His mother Christine was a talented track athlete.
The family bloodlines allowed for a British passport, so the family of six — they also have a daughter Sarah — moved to England. Christine left first, getting a job in banking, with Patrick following.
Jebbison went to Everton along with his brother Micah for a tryout. Eventually Sheffield United spotted him at a talent ID camp.
Jebbison worked his way up through the ranks, playing for Sheffield United’s under-18 and under-23 teams. The Blades handed him his Premier League debut off the bench May 8, 2021, in a 2-0 loss to visiting Crystal Palace.
He made his first start eight days later, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history — at 17 years 309 days — to score on his first start in England’s top tier in a 1-0 win at Everton.
Jebbison also became the youngest to score the winning goal in a Premier League match since Federico Macheda (17 years 232 days) for Manchester United against Sunderland in April 2009.
He was part of the Blades side that won automatic promotion to the Premier League in 2023 but made just one appearance after struggling with injury and illness before Sheffield United were relegated back to the Championship.
Kamal Miller, Theo Bair and Jonathan Sirois, part of Canada’s November roster, did not make the Nations League Finals squad with Jebbison, Promise David and Tom McGill taking their place.
Canada’s roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Tom McGill, Brighton and Hove Albion (England); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Derek Cornelius, Olympique de Marseille (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Glasgow Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel, Crewe Alexandra (on loan from Bristol City, England); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Villarreal CF (Spain, on loan from Italy’s Inter Milan); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Ismael Kone, Stade Rennais (on loan from Olympique de Marseille, France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Promise David, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium); Daniel Jebbison, AFC Bournemouth (England); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
