Bogota, March 19 (IANS) Colombia's football coach Jose Nestor Pekerman has announced the national team's 23-player list that will face Bolivia next week in the South American qualifying tournament for 2018 World Cup Russia.
Three new players were on Friday called upon by coach Pekerman, namely forwards Dayro Moreno and Luis Quinones and defender Stefan Medina, who play for Mexican sides -- Xolos de Tijuana, UNAM Pumas and Pachuca, respectively, reports Xinhua.
The match against Bolivia will take place on March 24 at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz. Five days later, Colombia will take on Ecuador at the Metropolitano Stadium, in Colombia's northern city of Barranquilla.
The team-list includes eight players who are currently part of Colombia's first division teams.
Half of those eight play for Colombia's current champion, Atletico Nacional. The team has been successful so far in the Copa Libertadores, the regional club tournament in South America.
These players are defender Farid Diaz, midfielder Sebastian Perez and forwards Marlos Moreno and Victor Ibarbo.
Also, goalkeeper Robinson Zapata and defender William Tesillo, both from Bogota's Santa Fe, as well as forwards Daniel Torres, from Medellin, and Guillermo Celis, from Barranquilla's Atletico Junior were included in the list.
Players who play in foreign clubs include James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), goalkeeper David Ospina (Arsenal), Carlos Bacca (AC Milan), and midfielder Juan Cuadrado (Juventus).
