Ghana announces squad for Nigeria games
Ghana has finally released its official squad list for the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs against the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The Ghanaian authorities had held on to the release of the squad list with many reports suggesting that it was a tactic to frustrate the opponents.
However, less than four days to the first leg in Kumasi, the official list is out and most of the expected names are in the squad. The notable absentees are skipper Andre Ayew who is suspended for the first leg as well as Kamaldeen Sulemana and Baba Rahman who are injured. There is no Majeed Waris nor Harison Afful as reported earlier.
The notable returnees are Richard Ofori who missed the AFCON and the last leg of the qualifiers against South Africa due to injury and Mohammed Kudus who was also absent at the Afcon due to injury despite being named in the squad. Jordan Ayew is also in the squad despite reports that he contracted Covid.
Lawrence Ati Zigi has retained his place among the goalkeepers’ list together with Jojo Wollacott and Abdul Manaf Nurudeen. AS Roma’s Afena Gyan after declining to join the team for the Afcon has linked up with the team for the crunch doubleheader.
There are also debut calls for Hearts of Oak defender Dennis Korsah and FC Brugge’s Denis Odoi.
Ghana official squad:
Goalkeepers: Joseph Wollacott (Swindon Town -England), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (KAS Eupen -Belgium), Lawrence Ati Zigi (St Gallen -Switzerland), Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates -South Africa).
Defenders: Denis Odoi (FC Brugge -Belgium), Andy Yiadom (Reading FC -England), Gideon Mensah (Bordeaux -France), Dennis Korsah (Hearts of Oak -Ghana), Montari Kamaheni (Ashdod FC -Israel), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City -England), Joseph Aidoo (Bordeaux -France), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg -France), Abdul Mumin (Victoria Guimaraes -Portugal).
Midfielders: Iddrisu Baba (RCD Mallorca -Spain), Edmund Addo (FC Sherif -Moldova), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam -Holland), Elisha Owusu (KAA Gent -Belgium), Thomas Partey (Arsenal -England), Daniel Kofi Kyereh (FC St. Pauli -Germany).
Wingers: Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting CP -Portugal), Osman Bukari (FC Nantes -France), Joseph Paintsil (KRC Gent -Belgium), Yaw Yeboah (Columbus Crew -USA).
Strikers: Felix Afena Gyan (AS Roma – Italy), Christopher Antwi-Adjei (VFL Bochum), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace – England), Kwasi Wriedt (Holstein Kiel -Germany)
