The Canada men's national team will replace center back Moïse Bombito on its 26-player World Cup roster after medical staff determined his surgically repaired tibia is not healthy enough to compete, multiple sources told TSN.
The 26-year-old defender experienced sensitivity in his leg following recent match appearances, prompting Canada Soccer to prioritize his long-term health.
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The decision was finalized after Bombito played 30 minutes in a closed-door scrimmage against Vermont Green FC.
Cautious Approach
National team head coach Jesse Marsch addressed the cautious approach taken by the coaching and medical staff regarding the OGC Nice defender's physical condition prior to the final roster decision.
"We’re being patient with Moise, we’re kind of going step-by-step," said Marsch.
"He had a bit of a reaction after the game against Uzbekistan, so it’s taking a little bit more time, but again, he’s a guy that we’re giving every opportunity to rebound from this and show that he can be ready to play."
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Marsch previously indicated that the team remained fully committed to the defender's recovery timeline before considering any alternative options for the tournament line-up.
"We haven’t even started talking about secondary options or anything else, because we’re focused on making sure that we give him every opportunity," said Marsch.
Replacement Plan
Twenty-year-old Luc de Fougerolles stepped in for Bombito during the tune-up fixtures and is expected to start in Canada's opening World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
Canada has until June 11 at 3:00 p. m.
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ET to officially name a replacement from its provisional 55-player list.
