Midfielders Ismaël Koné and Simi Awujo have been named Canada Soccer’s Young Players of the Year.
Both were honored for their performances in Canada Soccer’s national team program,
Both making their ‘A’ international debuts in 2022. Kone featured in all three FIFA Men’s World Cup matches in Qatar while Awujo made his senior debut after representing Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup U FIFA -20 in Costa Rica.
At 20, Koné was the youngest member of John Herdman’s World Cup squad in Qatar. In all, he played eight games in 2022 as the Canadian men finished atop CONCACAF’s final round of World Cup qualifying. Kone scored his first international goal in November, adding four goals and five assists in 32 appearances during his rookie season with CF Montreal.
Earlier this month, Koné moved from MLS to Watford in the English second division.
Awujo, 19, made her first three ‘A’ international appearances for Canada in September and October against Australia, Argentina and Morocco. She also made 10 youth international appearances for Canada, won a CONCACAF youth medal in March when Canada qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and was named Player of the Match. Canada twice at Costa Rica 2022.
Awujo attends the University of Southern California.
