Columbus Crew SC today announced that four players have received international call-ups from their respective federations ahead of upcoming matches: Harrison Afful (Ghana), Sergio Campbell (Jamaica), Kevan George (Trinidad and Tobago) and Justin Meram (Iraq).
Afful is slated to join Ghana ahead of two international friendlies, with both taking place in Washington, D.C. The Black Stars face-off against Peru (October 9) and Canada (October 13). The Crew SC defender has earned 55 caps for Ghana all-time, including two while a member of the Black & Gold: in a friendly against Congo (September 1) and a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Rwanda (September 5).
Campbell is set to join Jamaica for a friendly against South Korea in Seoul (October 13). The rookie defender, selected in the First Round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, was previously called-up by Jamaica on August 28 of this year ahead of two matches against Nicaragua as part of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He has earned two caps for the Reggae Boyz all-time.
George has been summoned by Trinidad and Tobago in advance of two international friendlies: at Panama (October 8) and against Nicaragua (October 13). The contest against Panama takes place in Panama City, while the match versus Nicaragua is slated to be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The Crew SC midfielder has earned 15 caps all-time, most recently by appearing in a friendly against Mexico (September 4).
Meram, who recently appeared in two qualification matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the Iraq National Team, is set to join the Lions of Mesopotamia ahead of another Group F qualification contest at Vietnam (October 8). Meram has earned 16 caps for Iraq all-time, and recently scored his first and second international goals in qualification contests against Chinese Taipei (September 3) and Thailand (September 8).
A fifth Crew SC player, Wil Trapp, already received his call-up to U.S. Soccer's Under-23 side for international duty ahead of the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship. The tournament, slated to be held in the U.S. from October 1-13,determines berths in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro from the CONCACAF region. Trapp previously joined the U-23s for a camp in Manchester, where he made an appearance in a friendly against England (September 3).
Afful, Campbell, George, Meram and Trapp are among a contingent of players from Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter's squad to earn international call-ups in 2015, joining Waylon Francis (Costa Rica), Kei Kamara (Sierra Leone), Cedrick Mabwati (DR Congo), Kristinn Steindorsson (Iceland), Romain Gall (United States U-20) and Ben Swanson (United States U-18, U-20). Crew SC’s roster also features Jack McInerney and Michael Parkhurst (both United States) as well as Emanuel Pogatetz (Austria) with senior National Team call-ups.
Crew SC travels to Harrison, New Jersey this weekend to meet the New York Red Bulls in a contest between Eastern Conference sides currently separated by just one point in the standings. The match is set to kick-off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 3 (Time Warner Cable SportsChannel / audio on ColumbusCrewSC.com, La Mega 103.1 FM).
