Croatia's Luka Modric, left, pass the ball past Canada's Ismael Kone during the World Cup group F soccer match between Croatia and Canada, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on November 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Darko Vojinovic
Midfielders Ismael Kone and Simi Awujo have been named Canada Soccer Young Players of the Year.
The two were honoured for their performances in Canada Soccer’s national teams program, with both making their international ‘A’ debuts in 2022. Kone featured in all three matches at the men’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar while Awujo made her senior debut after representing Canada at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
At 20, Kone was the youngest member of John Herdman’s World Cup team in Qatar. In all, he appeared in eight games in 2022 as the Canadian men finished atop the CONCACAF final round of World Cup qualifying. Kone scored his first international goal in November, adding four goals and five assists in 32 appearances in his rookie season with CF Montreal.
Earlier this month, Kone made the move from Major League Soccer to Watford in England’s second-tier Championship.
The 19-year-old Awujo made her first three international ‘A’ appearances for Canada in September and October against Australia, Argentina and Morocco. She also made 10 youth international appearances for Canada, won a CONCACAF youth medal in March when Canada qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and was named Canada’s Player of the Match twice at Costa Rica 2022.
Awujo attends the University of Southern California.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Canada Soccer Player Awards, with the winners of the Canada Soccer Players of the Year to be announced Wednesday and Thursday.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2022
