Vancouver FC's Thierno Bah (7) jumps over Vancouver Whitecaps' Sebastian Berhalter (16) during the first half of the Canadian Championship final soccer match, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

By The Canadian Press

Atletico Ottawa duo among five finalists for CPL’s Best Canadian U-21 Player Award

Oct 28, 2025 | 11:23 AM

Atletico Ottawa’s Noah Abatneh and Gabriel Antinoro are among the five nominees for the Canadian Premier League’s Best Canadian U-21 Player award.

The two are joined by Vancouver FC’s Thierno Bah, Halifax’s Tiago Coimbra and Forge FC’s Hoce Massunda.

The CPL has expanded the finalists to five from three year, “reflecting the exceptional depth of young Canadian talent showcased throughout the 2025 CPL campaign.”

The winner, decided by a vote of the eight CPL clubs’ technical leadership as well as select media members, will be announced Nov. 7 in Ottawa as part of the league championship game festivities.

Abatneh, a defender, was a finalist for the 2024 U-21 award won by Forge’s Kwasi Poku. Antinoro, a midfielder, was the only U-21 domestic player to appear in all 28 matches for his club.

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Bah, a wingback/winger, tied for third in the league with six assists while striker Coimbra’s 12 goals led all U-21 domestic players and ranked second among all CPL players. Massunda, an attacker, contributed five assists, second among U-21 players and sixth among all CPL players.

Voting for the CPL’s Best Canadian U-21 Player award is based on performances during the 2025 regular season.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2025.

The Canadian Press