CHESTER, Pa. (November 12, 2018) – Philadelphia Union announced today that five players have been named by their respective international federations for call-ups in advance of the upcoming FIFA window. Borek Dockal (Czech Republic), Andre Blake, Cory Burke (both Jamaica), Olivier Mbaizo (Cameroon Under-23) and Adam Najem (Afghanistan) have all been called up.
Dockal re-joins the Czech Republic ahead of a friendly at Poland (November 15) and a 2018-19 UEFA Nations League match vs. Slovakia in Prague (November 19). Last month, he joined the team ahead of a round of Nations League matches, at Slovakia (October 13) and at Ukraine (October 16). As the team's captain, he started both matches, assisting twice in the first contest, a 2-1 win.
Meanwhile, Blake and Burke both head to the Jamaican National Team for the third time in three months, this time ahead of a Concacaf Nations League qualifier at home vs. Suriname (November 17). Both players have been integral parts of the Reggae Boyz’ qualification campaign; Blake has kept clean sheets in both of Jamaica’s first two matches in the competition, while Burke has started and scored in each. Mbaizo joins the Cameroon U-23s for qualification matches ahead of the Total Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. The team plays Chad in a two-legged aggregate series, first at Cameroon (November 16) and then at Chad (November 21).
Mbaizo has earned one senior international cap for Cameroon, and last year, he appeared with their U-20’s at the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
Finally, Najem joins Afghanistan for the second time in his career, ahead of a friendly at Nepal (November 14). He received his first-ever call-up from the Afghanistan National Team earlier this year ahead of a friendly vs. Palestine in Kabul, Afghanistan (August 19). He started the match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, earning his first cap.
