Honduras' Alfredo Mejia (#19) can make his first-ever appearance in a World Cup qualifier next month. (Photo: Mexsport)
TEGUCIGLPA, Honduras – Alfredo Mejia will replace fellow midfielder Roger Espinoza on the Honduras roster for a pair of key World Cup qualifiers next month, the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras (FENAFUTH) announced Saturday.
In a statement, FENAFUTH said that Espinoza would miss out due to personal reasons.
Honduras (1W-1D-2L, 4 points) currently sits second in its fourth-round group, leading Canada (1-1-2, 4) on goal difference. The sides will meet on September 2 in San Pedro Sula, with the winner moving in prime position to join Group A-topping Mexico (4-0-0, 12) in the CONCACAF Hexagonal.
After squaring off against Canada, the Hondurans will visit Mexico on September 6.
Earlier this month, Mejia recently joined Liga Nacional de Honduras side Marathon following a two-year stint with Greece’s Panthrakikos, where he scored one goal in 48 league games. The 26-year-old has appeared in seven Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League games while as a member of Real España from 2009-11.
With Honduras. Mejia has competed in two CONCACAF Gold Cups (2011, 2015), the Olympic Games (2012), the FIFA U-17 World Cup (2007) and the FIFA U-20 World Cup (2009).
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Donis Escober (Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real España)
DEFENDERS: Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa/Mexico), Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas/USA), Bryan Garcia (Vida), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic/Scotland), Johnny Leveron (Correcaminos/Mexico), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Marcelo Pereira (Motagua)
MIDFIELDERS: Bryan Acosta (Real España), Jorge Claros (Alajuelense/Costa Rica), Carlos Discua (Motagua), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo/USA), Mario Martinez (ENNPI/Egypt), Alfredo Mejia (Marathon), Oliver Morazan (Olimpia), Romell Quioto (Olimpia)
FORWARDS: Alberth Elis (Monterrey/Mexico), Eddie Hernandez (Qindao Jonoong/China), Antony Lozano (Tenerife/Spain), Diego Reyes (Marathon), Marco Tulio Vega (Motagua)
