Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah has revealed why skipper Asamoah Gyan, the Ayew brothers and other notable players did not make his roster for the upcoming international duties.
As the 2018 World Cup draws closer, qualified nations are utilizing the international friendly days in shaping up for the global tourney. With Ghana failing to secure a place at the tournament, the senior national side has been invited by Japan and Iceland for warm-up games in preparation for the Russia-hosted contest.
Appiah’s 21-man squad for the fixtures, has no Asamoah Gyan and the Ayew brothers, raising doubts on whether the top stars remain key to the new Black Star set-up. But the 57-year-old gaffer has cleared the public scepticism on the future of the lads in the team.
“There are a lot of players I didn’t invite and I didn’t do so because they are not performing. Players like Asamoah Gyan, Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew have been tried and tested over the years and the whole world knows the quality they possess,” Appiah is quoted as saying by SportsworldGhana.
“I feel this is the perfect opportunity for me to try Emmanuel Boateng and Kwasi Okyere Wriedt as we build a strong team for our upcoming Afcon qualifying matches.”
The former Al-Khartoum coach highlighted on why he wants to test the new entrants.
“These are the only friendly games we have to play before we resume our qualifiers so this certainly is the right time to try the new guy,” he added.
Ghana are placed in group F with Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Kenya. The Stars thumped the Ethiopians 5-0 in their first qualifying encounter at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Japan hosts the Black Stars at the Nissan Stadium, Yokohoma on May 30 – it’s a send-off match for the Blue Samurai before they leave home for their Switzerland friendly. Then on June 7, Euro 2016 wonder side Iceland will also play the Stars in Laugardarlsvellir.
The Black Stars begin preparations for the two games on Tuesday at Legon Presec.
