Canada's women's soccer squad to play Nigeria in next stop of celebration tour

Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe still vividly remembers the last time the Canadian women's soccer team played at B.C. Place in Vancouver.

It was November 2017 and the squad battled the No. 1 Americans to a 1-1 draw in a friendly that proved to be a turning point for the Canadians.

"That was, I think, one of the biggest moments," Labbe said. "Our team came away from that game with that firm belief of we can hang with the top teams and put in performances that actually dominate top teams and can actually get results against them. I think we really built a solid foundation of belief and confidence from that game."

Canada is set to face Nigeria in a two-series match as part of it's celebration tour next month. The first game will be played at B.C. Place on April 8 and the second will go on April 11 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C.

The games will be an opportunity to finally celebrate the gold medal with fans, Labbe said.

"As a soccer player, what's really difficult about the Olympics is after you might have a few days rest but you have to get right back in with your pro team. So the ability to really come home and celebrate with Canada is tough," she said. "We come home to different cities, we maybe have a little thing in our own hometowns, but really as a team to feel that love and that connection with our country hasn't really been there."

Canada, ranked sixth in the world, played a pair of games against New Zealand in October as part of the celebration tour. They beat the visitors 5-1 in Ottawa and 1-0 in Montreal.

Putting together friendlies during a global pandemic hasn't been easy, said Bev Priestman, Canada's head coach. Before lining up games with Nigeria, a series with another country fell through, she said.

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