Teenage winger Alphonso Davies scored twice as Canada withstood a fightback from minnows French Guiana to open their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory in Group A on Friday.
Vancouver Whitecaps forward Davies, 16, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana in 2000 as his family fled fighting in Liberia, finished clinically in the 60th and 85th minutes to give Canada all three points at the Red Bull Arena.
Davies' second goal snuffed out French Guiana's hopes of salvaging a draw after they scored twice in the second half through Roy Contout and Sloan Privat after Canada had earlier cruised into a 3-0 lead.
It was a dazzling debut from Davies, who only became a Canadian citizen in June and who has reportedly been scouted by English giants Manchester United and Liverpool.
French Guiana's preparations for the game had been overshadowed by controversy concerning forward Florent Malouda.
The former France and Chelsea star had hoped to play for the territory of his birth but was deemed ineligible by CONCACAF chiefs on Thursday. French Guiana manager Jair Karam had threatened to play Malouda regardless - and risk forfeiting the game - but eventually opted not to start the veteran.

Source: Khaleej Times