Ghana coach Bashir Hayford has confirmed his final squad for the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The list of 21 players includes nine foreign-based players.
The likes of Patricia Mantey (Immigration Ladies), Fafali Dumahisi (Police Ladies), Nana Ama Asantewaa (Police Ladies), Cynthia Adobea (Prisons Ladies), Ellen Coleman (Lady Strikers), Philicity Asuako (Police Ladies), Gladys Amfobea (Lady Strikers), Grace Asantewaa (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Juliet Acheampong (Prisons Ladies), Mary Essiful (Soccer Intellectuals), Jane Ayieyam (Police Ladies) and Lily Niber-Lawrence (Hasaacas Ladies) make up a dominant local contingent of 12.
As many as 11 members of the Black Queens squad are making a third straight appearance at the flagship women’s football competition on the continent.
Also, eight players – Ellen Coleman, Faustina Ampah, Philicity Asuako, Gladys Amfobea, Sherifatu Sumaila, Grace Asantewaa, Jane Ayieyam and Lily Niber-Lawrence will be making their debuts at the Women’s Afcon.
Following the team’s tour of Zambia and Kenya, the following players were dropped from the final Ghana squad: Diana Wiagbe, Leticia Zikpi, Linda Addae, Veronica Darkwah and Rita Okyere. Both Sandra Owusu-Ansah and Priscilla Hagan were also ruled out due to injury.
Tournament hosts Ghana open their campaign in Group A against Algeria on November 17, followed by Mali on the 20th and Cameroon three days later – all at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Below is the squad:
Goalkeepers:
Patricia Mantey (Immigration Ladies), Fafali Dumahisi (Police Ladies), Nana Ama Asantewaa (Police Ladies)
Defenders:
Linda Eshun (Grindivic FC, Iceland), Janet Egyir (Afturelding FC, Iceland), Cynthia Adobea (Prisons Ladies), Ellen Coleman (Lady Strikers), Faustina Ampah (FC Minsk, Belarus), Philicity Asuako (Police Ladies), Gladys Amfobea (Lady Strikers)
Midfielders:
Elizabeth Addo (Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia), Grace Asantewaa (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Priscilla Okyere (ZFK Spartak Subotica, Serbia), Juliet Acheampong (Prisons Ladies), Mary Essiful (Soccer Intellectuals), Sherifatu Sumaila (Djurgårdens IF, Sweden)
Forwards:
Samira Suleman (Afturelding FC, Iceland), Portia Boakye (Djurgårdens IF, Sweden), Jane Ayieyam (Police Ladies), Alice Kusi (Zouk Mosbeh FC, Lebanon), Lily Niber-Lawrence (Hasaacas Ladies)
