Latest news with #AliAhmed
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Canada soccer coach Jesse Marsch says his players were poisoned in Mexico in furious outburst
Canada men's national team manager Jesse Marsch believes that three players he called up from the Vancouver Whitecaps were poisoned in their trip to Mexico last weekend. The Whitecaps traveled to Mexico City to take part in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, losing 5-0 to Cruz Azul. On Wednesday, the club cancelled a training session after a 'significant number' of players and staff members began suffering gastrointestinal issues. In a statement (via The Athletic) the club said, 'As a precautionary measure, and in consultation with the club's medical team, as well as the local infectious disease consultant and Vancouver Coastal Health, the club cancelled training on Wednesday and held a modified individual closed session for cleared players today.' Three Whitecaps players - Sam Adekugbe, Ali Ahmed, and Jayden Nelson - were called up the Canadian national team for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. Prior to a friendly tournament against Ukraine, Marsch spoke to reporters following an event with the Canada Ukraine Foundation to blast CONCACAF for its inaction and making accusations - admitting he had no proof. 'It's, for me, appalling that this is the second year in a row that CONCACAF and the powers that be have allowed an MLS tea to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned,' Marsch said. 'It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments.' Last season, the Columbus Crew played in the final of the same tournament - traveling to Mexico to take on Pachuca. Pachuca won 3-0. Following that game, Columbus manager Wilfried Nancy reported that multiple members of the first team and the coaching staff were suffering from food poisioning. General manager Tim Bezbatchenko suggested the team may be a victim of 'subterfuge'. The Whitecaps attempted to mitigate these circumstances from happening to them by hiring their own chef, however the issues occurred anyway. Marsch continued, telling reporters: 'Look, in the past when you would go down there, I remember being with the U.S. national team and club teams going down to Mexico, it was 'will the fire alarm be pulled in the middle of the night? Will there be dancing and singing?' And those are somewhat spirited, competitive advantages that are created when you go down to Mexico. But poisoning the team is another version.' 'Look I don't have any proof here that this (occurred) but it's not random. It's not random that two years in a row this has happened. 'If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I were the Columbus Crew, if I were MLS, I would be absolutely angry that this has been allowed to happen. 'When all three of (Adekugbe, Ahmed, and Nelson) are sick, it's clear. It wasn't just 'Ah, I don't feel so great'. There was talk of whether it was an infectious virus but in the end, I don't want to speak but I think the results are that it was food poisoning.' Adekugbe, Ahmed, and Nelson all participated in training sessions with the Canadian national team on Friday morning. However, Marsch says their recent ailments have led to him re-considering who starts against Ukraine on Saturday. 'We weren't planning to but when the Vancouver guys got poisoned, that changed the plan. They all feel good today, but they're all different. They're not at 100 percent like they would be,' Marsch said. 'You don't run into two years in a final and a bout of MLS teams getting food poisoning for a final. I get it why (players) can't say anything, they're not sure, and I'm not sure either. But this is too much of a coincidence.' After the fixture against Ukraine, Canada will play Cote d'Ivoire in another friendly on Tuesday evening. From there, they travel to the west coast for the start of the Gold Cup - which has them in Group B. They open the tournament against Honduras in Vancouver before traveling to Houston to face Curacao and El Salvador. Under Marsch, Canada has continued its strong form in CONCACAF competitions. Earlier this year, Marsch's men defeated the United States to finish third in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Ali Ahmed of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps sits on the pitch after losing 0-5 against Mexico's Cruz Azul during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final soccer match in Mexico City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Ali Ahmed of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps sits on the pitch after losing 0-5 against Mexico's Cruz Azul during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final soccer match in Mexico City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a "significant number" of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday. Advertisement 'They're better now,' Marsch said. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances." The trio practiced with the national team Friday in preparation for the match at Toronto's BMO Field. Canada also plays Ivory Coast on Tuesday as it readies for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Marsch, who said it was his understanding that the players had food poisoning, questioned how it could happen two years in a row. Last year, Columbus Crew players fell ill while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico against Pachuca. "If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen,' he said. Advertisement The Whitecaps were forced to cancel practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported the gastrointestinal symptoms. It appeared many players had returned Friday. 'The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,' the Whitecaps said in a statement. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster told reporters that about half of the 75 people who returned to Canada via charter following the game reported symptoms. The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Liga MX team Cruz Azul in the tournament's championship game Sunday night in Mexico City. The Whitecaps were scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday. Nine players were already going to be missing because of national team duty, including Ahmed, Adekugbe and Nelson. Advertisement Schuster said the Whitecaps have been in contact with the league about whether the team would have enough players for the game. "If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course,' Schuster said. 'No one ever wants not to play a game if he thinks he has a group together that is ready to compete in this game.' ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday. 'They're better now,' Marsch said. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances.' The trio practiced with the national team Friday in preparation for the match at Toronto's BMO Field. Canada also plays Ivory Coast on Tuesday as it readies for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Marsch, who said it was his understanding that the players had food poisoning, questioned how it could happen two years in a row. Last year, Columbus Crew players fell ill while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico against Pachuca. 'If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen,' he said. The Whitecaps were forced to cancel practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported the gastrointestinal symptoms. It appeared many players had returned Friday. 'The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,' the Whitecaps said in a statement. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster told reporters that about half of the 75 people who returned to Canada via charter following the game reported symptoms. The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Liga MX team Cruz Azul in the tournament's championship game Sunday night in Mexico City. The Whitecaps were scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday. Nine players were already going to be missing because of national team duty, including Ahmed, Adekugbe and Nelson. Schuster said the Whitecaps have been in contact with the league about whether the team would have enough players for the game. 'If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course,' Schuster said. 'No one ever wants not to play a game if he thinks he has a group together that is ready to compete in this game.' ___ AP soccer:
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Canada coach irate after Vancouver Whitecaps players stricken by illness in Mexico
Article content Whitecaps players Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson missed training after arriving sick in the Canadian camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's game at Toronto's BMO Field between Canada and Ukraine in the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament. 'They're better now,' Marsch said before speaking at a Canada Ukraine Foundation breakfast Friday. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances (Saturday). But for me, it's appalling that this is the second year in a row that CONCACAF and the powers that be have allowed an MLS team to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned. 'It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments.' The Columbus Crew also complained of stomach illness after their loss at Mexico's CF Pachuca in last year's Champions Cup final. Coach Crew coach Wilfried Nancy confirmed afterwards that nearly the entire roster and coaching staff had been stricken by what the club believed to be food poisoning.
