C K Akonnor, Head Coach of the Senior National Team, the Black Stars of Ghana, has named a 30-man provisional squad for Ghana’s upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa.
Unlike previous call ups that failed to include home-based players, Mr. Akonnor has included in his provisional list five players that put up superb performances for their respective clubs in the just ended Ghana Premier League.
Undoubtedly, the call up of the locally based players mirrored the performance of the clubs in the country recently with the current champions, Accra Hearts of Oak producing two out of the five local players invited.
The five home based players include Richard Atta (Hearts of Oak), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Ismail Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Steadfast FC) and Afriyie Barnieh of Accra Hearts of Oak.
Undeniably, one of the finest young talents on the Ghanaian soccer scene, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, led Ghana to win the 2021 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania. The 20-year old also played a pivotal role in the Samuel Boadu’s rejuvenated Hearts of Oak team that won the double this season; the Premier League and the FA Cup.
As a result, his inclusion in the provisional squad will not only boost his confidence ahead of the upcoming CAF Champions League, but will also serve as a motivation for other young players plying their trade on the local front to work extra hard so as to be honoured by a Black Star call up in the future.
Other notable inclusions
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates shot stopper, Richard Ofori, who hasn’t played for Ghana since November last year following a muscle injury, is in line to make his first appearance in 11 months after recovering from the setback.
Furthermore, Coach Akonnor has also handed call ups to Belgium based duo Manaf Nurudeen and Majeed Ashimeru. Also making the provisional squad is Columbus Crew’s skipper and centre back, Jonathan Mensah who has been missing in action for a while.
Ghana will take on the Walias of Ethiopia at the Cape Coast stadium on Friday, September 3, before travelling to Johannesburg, South Africa to engage the Bafana Bafana in an intriguing encounter on September 6, 2021. The Bafana Bafana will seek a revenge after losing 2-0 to the Black Stars at the Cape Coast sports stadium which saw them failing to qualify for the Total African Cup of Nations to be staged in Cameroon early next year.
On their part, the Black Stars, who are chasing their fourth appearance at the World Cup, will count on their amazing performance that saw them drawing 1-1 with their host in the last encounter between the two former African champions to pick at least a point in that crucial game.
Check out the full list of the chaps that made the 30-man provisional squad
GOALKEEPERS:
Richard Ofori – Orlando Pirates FC – South Africa
Lawrence Ati Zigi – St. Galen FC – Switzerland
Manaf Nurudeen – Kas Eupen – Belgium
Richard Atta– Hearts of Oak – Ghana
FULL BACKS
Benson Anang – Zilina FC – Slovakia
Yiadom Andrew – Reading FC – England
Baba Abdul Rahman – Chelsea FC – UK
Gideon Mensah – FC Girondins Bordeaux – France
Baffour Philimon – Dreams FC – Ghana
CENTER BACKS
Alexander Djiku – RC Strasbourg – France
Daniel Amartey – Leicester City FC- England
Ismael Ganiyu – Asante Kotoko – Ghana
Jonathan Mensah – Columbus Crew – USA
MIDFIELDERS
Mubarak Wakaso – Shenzhen – China
Iddrisu Baba – RCD Mallorca – Spain
Thomas Partey – Arsenals FC – England
Emmanuel Lomotey – Amiens FC – France
WINGERS
Joel Fameye – Orenburg FC – Russia
Samuel Owusu – Al Fayhad – Saudi Arabia
Gyasi Emmanuel – Spezia – Italy
Kamal Deen Sulemana – Rennes FC – France
Tariq Fosu – Henry – Brentford FC – England
Isahaku Fatawu – Steadfast FC – Ghana
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS:
Afriyie Banieh – Hearts of Oak – Ghana
Kudus Mohamed – Ajax FC – Holland
Majeed Ashimeru – RSC Anderlecht- Belgium
STRIKERS
Andre Ayew – Al Saad – Qatar
Jordan Ayew – Crystal Palace – England
Kwame Opoku – USM Algiers – Algeria
Kelvin Yeboah – Sturm Graz – Austria
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