Captain Sinclair, Canadian teammate Lawrence back for Brazil women's friendlies

Canada head coach Bev Priestman has called up three members of the national under-17 team to join her squad for a two-game series in Brazil in the November international window.

It's the first senior invites for fullback Ella Ottey and forwards Amanda Allen and Annabelle Chukwu. All three were among Canada's top performers at the recent FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India, where the young Canadians failed to make the knockout round after going 0-1-2 in pool play.

The seventh-ranked Canadian women, who are building towards next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, are riding a four-game win streak ahead of the friendlies against No. 9 Brazil on Nov. 11 in Santos and Nov. 15 in Sao Paulo.

"The group is excited to get back together again for one last push of 2022 against a top team," Priestman said in a statement. "With some of the roster realities it provides us with an opportunity to invite and assess some young talent who recently represented Canada at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

"2022 has really given me the opportunity to develop squad depth for 2023 and 2024, which is fantastic and exactly what we know helps teams be successful in tournament football."

Captain Christine Sinclair and fullback Ashley Lawrence return after missing the last Canada camp in October.

The 39-year-old Sinclair led the Portland Thorns to the National Women's Soccer League title on Saturday in a 2-0 win over fellow Canadian Desiree Scott and the Kansas City Current.

Sinclair and Scott are two of the eight NWSL players in the 25-player Canadian squad.

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