Canada names Fleming FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup captain
London, Ont., midfielder has seen action with senior national team
Jessie Fleming will captain Canada at the FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup.
Fleming, a midfielder from London, Ont., and Sura Yekka, a defender from Toronto, have both seen action with the Canadian senior team.
Fleming was just 15 when she played for Canada in December in a scoreless draw in Brazil. Yekka was 16 when she made her senior debut in October in a 3-0 win over South Korea in Edmonton.
The Canadians qualified for the U-17 World Cup in Costa Rica by virtue of their runner-up finish at the 2013 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship in Jamaica in November.
The 21-woman roster includes four players who will be eligible for the 2016 edition of U-17 World Cup in Jordan. Ten of the 21 players have the opportunity to experience three youth World Cups.
"This tournament provides these players with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability against some of the best players in the world at their age group," said head coach Bev Priestman. "Hopefully (this) is a spring board to progress up in our system. It's an exciting time."
The squad is scheduled to play a 60-minute training match with Japan on March 11.
They open competition against Germany on March 15 before playing North Korea on March 18 and Ghana on March 22.
North Korea won the tournament two years ago, beating Canada 2-1 in the quarter-finals.