SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake and U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday that RSL DF Boyd Okwuonu will join the U.S. U-23 National Team in Sarajevo for a camp that includes friendlies against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Denmark. Okwuonu departed Salt Lake City for his first call-up since coming to Real Salt Lake in the second round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft in January.
“I’m excited first of all. It’s always a blessing to represent your country,” Okwuonu said. “It’s a good opportunity for me and I’m glad to go with the U-23s. I’m very happy and thankful for it.”
Okwuonu, 22, was a member of the U.S. National Team at the U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-18 levels, playing in the 2011 Northern Ireland Milk Cup with the U.S. U-18 squad. In college, he started 89 matches over four years at the University of North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels to a top-15 defense in the country all four years. He was a three-time All-ACC First Team selection, a two time NSCAA All-America Second Team pick and was the 2013 ACC Defender of the Year.
He joins RSL MF Luis Gil on the U-23 team, which is in preparation for 2016 Olympic qualifying later this year. After facing Bosnia & Herzegovina on Friday, they will move camp to Denmark and face Denmark’s U-23s on March 31.
Both players are expected to return to RSL prior to the club’s road match on April 5 against the San Jose Earthquakes.
