Did Ayo Akinola make the right choice in choosing Canada?

Ayo Akinola is set to represent Canada at the international level, the former United States youth international set to become cap-tied for the country where he has spent much of his life.

And the decision for Ayo Akinola to represent Canada, first reported this week by ‘MLS Multiplex,’ has been met with differing opinions.

Former United States internationals Tony Meola and Charlie Davies, the hosts of Sirius XM’s ‘Counter Attack,’ had a clash of insights on the decision by the Toronto FC striker to represent Canada and not the United States. Davies, himself a former striker with the United States, wasn’t on board with Akinola’s decision.

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He sees a clear pathway for Akinola to get into the competition at striker for head coach Gregg Berhalter’s team.

“I understand you feel connected to a country, but when you look at the depth of the forward position. It’s hard for me to imagine that he’s going to get an opportunity, anytime soon. Throw in Jonathan David, him balling in Ligue, you talk about Cyle Larin and him balling out in Turkey for Beskitas, and you could even say Lucas Cavallini for Vancouver. Three players ahead of Ayo,” Davies said on Sirius XM on Thursday.

“At the moment, you look at the US National Team and the positions up for grabs. There is nobody that’s established…sure Darryl Dike has done well, whether it’s be alone in the English Championship or in Orlando City. Then you, you’re kind of looking after that, like, well, It’s no one’s really grabbed a hold of that number nine spot so. Part of me is like, great, if you’re going with your gut feeling and connected with get up but it’s gonna be much harder for him to break into that team than it is for the US men’s national.”

Meola, who coached Akinola with the United States youth national team, sees things differently. He thinks that Akinola’s decision makes more sense given what he sees as a greater pathway for minutes and opportunities at the international level.

This past December, Akinola played for the United States and scored against El Salvador in an international friendly. The 6-1 win was not a match that would cap-tie Akinola, leaving open the door for this switch to Canada.

In nine games (six starts) this year for Toronto FC, Ayo Akinola has two goals. In four seasons in MLS, representing 36 appearances (19 starts) and 1,857 minutes played, Akinola has 12 goals and two assists.

Meola disagreed with Davies’ that the road to making an impact would be easier with the United States than Canada.

“See I’m looking at it the other way around. I think there’s more of a pathway for him to get minutes with Canada, then there is with, with this team, and we talked about this and Efrain Alvarez, there’s less of a path for him and I think that’s why he took that opportunity [with Mexico],” Meola said on ‘Counter Attack’ on Thursday.

“I, at the moment – there’s been flashes, but after, and I’m a fan of Ayo Akinola – I had him with the youth national teams, all the way leading up to the U20 World Cup and Tab had him through qualifying – watching them all there, did very, very well…. I don’t know what the upside is for Iowa canola where I look at the [Niko] Gioacchini, who I think there’s still an upside, Daryl Dike. I think there’s still an upside. There are more people in the line. But nobody for the US has gotten to the front of the line, just yet. Where there’s a little more as you mentioned established with Jonathan David and Larin and some of those players, but I think the line in itself is shorter in Canada for him.

“But, but I think he has seen sort of that writing on the wall I’m happy for him because I like the kid, and if he’s happy in Canada and that’s where he wants to be, by all means be in Canada.”

Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @Kristian Dyer

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