Ghana coach, Kwasi Appiah has named a 24-man squad for the final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Kenya scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium.
Appiah has handed first-time senior call-ups to five players – Amos Frimpong, Joseph Aidoo, Kwame Bonsu, Ernest Asante and Caleb Ekuban while the likes of Felix Annan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Kassim Adams, Jeffrey Schlupp, Alfred Duncan, Alhassan Wakaso and Kwasi Appiah are back in the mix. For the latter who strikes for AFC Wimbledon, it’s a return from a long absence – mostly blighted by injuries – since he was blooded into the national team by former coach Avram Grant at the 2015 Afcon in Gabon.
With Ghana already qualified for the upcoming Afcon in Egypt, Coach Kwasi Appiah will seek to use the final qualifier at home to the Harambee Stars to assess these invitees most of whom have not had their opportunities in the campaign. A win over Kenya with superiority in the application of the head-to-head rule, sees them top Group F.
The Black Stars begin camping on March 18, ahead of the qualifier on Saturday, March 23.
Meanwhile, the Accra Sports Stadium will witness a double header on March 23, as the Black Meteors are also scheduled to host Gabon at the same venue in an Under-23 Afcon qualifier.
The Black Meteors’ match will precede the Black Stars’. The Olympic team will play at 3pm before the Black Stars take the stage at 6pm.
Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Richard Ofori (Martizburg, South Africa), Lawrence Ati (Sochaux, France), Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)
Defenders:
Kwadwo Asamoah (Inter Milan, Italy), Lumor Agbenyenu (Göztepe S.K, Turkey), Andy Yiadom (Reading Football Club, England), Amos Frimpong (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Kassim Adams (1899 Hoffenheim, Germany), Nicholas Opoku (Udinese, Italy), John Boye (Metz,France), Joseph Aidoo (Genk, Belgium)
Midfielders:
Andre Ayew (Fenerbahçe S.K, Turkey), Mubarak Wakaso (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Christian Atsu (Newcastle, England), Kwame Bonsu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Ernest Asante (Al Jazira, UAE), Thomas Partey (Atlético Madrid), Alhassan Wakaso (Vitória S.C, Portugal), Jeffery Schlupp (Crystal Palace, England), Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo, Italy)
Forwards:
Caleb Ansah Ekuban (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Emmanuel Boateng (Dalian Yifang, China), Kwasi Appiah (AFC Wimbledon, UK)
