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CanWNT’s Sinclair eyes goal scoring record at Concacaf Olympic qualifiers

Christine Sinclair has a date with destiny.

Sinclair currently sits on 183 goals for Canada since making her debut as a teenager in 2000, and she is poised to leapfrog retired U.S. star Abby Wambach (184 goals) as the all-time leading scorer in international soccer, for both women and men.

The iconic captain is expected to set the new record at the upcoming Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament which runs from Jan. 28 to Feb 9, 2020.

Sinclair was one of 22 players named to Canadian coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller’s preliminary roster on Friday for the competition (he’ll trim the roster to 20 names before the tournament), and chances are very good she could break Wambach’s record in the Reds’ opening game.

Canada, eighth in the current FIFA world rankings, will compete in Group B at the Concacaf Olympic qualifiers vs. No. 127 Saint Kitts and Nevis (on Jan 29), No. 51 Jamaica (on Feb.1) and No. 26 Mexico (on Feb. 4). All of Canada’s group stage games will take place in Edinburg, Texas.

Group A consists of two-time reigning World Cup champions United States (ranked No. 1 in the world), Costa Rica (37), Panama (53) and Haiti (68). All group games will be played in Houston.

The semifinals and finals will be staged in Carson, California.

The top two nations from each group advance to the semifinals of the Concacaf tournament. Only the two finalists qualify for next summer’s Olympics in Tokyo.

Canada will hold a two-week preparation camp in Texas for the tournament starting on Monday.

The Canadian women have qualified for the last three Olympics, beating Mexico (twice) and Costa Rica in the semifinals of the Concacaf qualifiers, before losing to the U.S. in the final each time.

Canada did not qualify for the 2004 Games in Athens, as it was upset by Mexico in the Concacaf semifinals. The Canadian women also did not qualify for the 1996 or 2000 Olympics when the U.S. was the lone CONCACAF representative.

Canada won bronze medals at the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

CANADA’S PRELIM ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Stephanie Labbe, North Carolina Courage (NWSL); Kailen Sheridan, Sky Blue FC (NWSL); Sabrina D’Angelo, Vittsjo GIK (Sweden).

Defenders: Allysha Chapman, Houston Dash (NWSL); Kadeisha Buchanan, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Shelina Zadorsky, Orlando Pride (NWSL); Rebecca Quinn, Seattle Reign (NWSL); Ashley Lawrence, Paris Saint-Germain (France); Jayde Riviere, University of Michigan.

Midfielders: Julia Grosso, University of Texas; Desiree Scott, Utah Royals (NWSL); Sophie Schmidt, Houston Dash (NWSL); Gabrielle Carle, Florida State University; Jessie Fleming, UCLA.

Forwards: Deanne Rose, University of Florida; Jordyn Huitema, Paris Saint-Germain (France); Christine Sinclair (capt.), Portland Thorns (NWSL); Nichelle Prince, Houston Dash (NWSL); Janine Beckie, Manchester City (England); Adriana Leon, West Ham (England); Jenna Hellstrom, Washington Spirit (NWSL); Olivia Smith, Super REX Ontario.