Canada's men's U-20 team will begin training in Larnaka, Cyprus this week before the 2009 Francophone Games in Lebanon. Coach Tony Fonseca has selected 20 players for the tournament which runs 26 September to 6 October. Canada will face Congo, France and Morocco in the opening round.

These games provide a platform from which youth from around the world rally to unite culture and sports," said coach Tony Fonseca. "The games stand for its core values: diversity, excellence and solidarity."

Canada will train in Cyprus from 19-23 September. The team then departs for Lebanon on 24 September and resumes training immediately. The team plays Congo on 26 September (21.00 local), France on 28 September (18.00 local), and Morocco on 30 September (18.00 local).

"In line with its values, the games provide a great opportunity to develop and promote new talents on the international scene," said Fonseca. "We are all looking forward to the games."

All 20 Canadian players were born 1989 or later, thus making them eligible for the next Men's Olympic Football Tournament cycle which runs through 2012. The Francophone Games roster features four returning players from the 2009 CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship from earlier this year: Philippe Davies, Derek Gaudet, Paris Nakajima-Farran and Alex Surprenant. Along with Davies, three other players have experience from the 2007 CONCACAF Men's Under-17 Championship: Alex Semenets, Mohamed Sylla and Jarek Whiteman.

The three youngest players on the team are Gino Mauro, John Pegg and Roberto Stillo. All three were born in 1991 and are eligible for the 2011 CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship.

This is Canada’s sixth participation in the Francophone Games. Canada was champion of the inaugural Football Tournament back in 1989.