Ghana’s senior national team- Black Stars will begin training Tuesday 6th OCTOBER, 2020 at the Emir sports complex ahead of the team’s international friendlies against Mali and Qatar later this week.
The Black Stars technical team headed by Charles Kwablah Akonnor landed in Turkey on Sunday to begin preparations for the game ahead of the team’s first game against Mali on Friday, October 9, before taking on Asian champions Qatar three days later in Antalya, Turkey.
According to the Ghana FA, ten players have so far arrived in the team’s camp in Antalya, Turkey.
Eight of these players arrived at the Xanthe Resort & Spa on Monday to team up with Samuel Owusu and Razak Abalora who travelled with the local contingent on Saturday.
They include Baba Idrisu, Benson Annang, Kamaldeen Suleyman and Nicholas Opoku.
The rest are Gideon Mensah, Eugene Ansah, Emmanuel Lomotey and Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
Meanwhile, coach Akonnor will be without some five top players when they play the two friendlies.
Ghana’s number one goalkeeper Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United), John Antwi (Pyramids FC), Lumor Agbenyenu (Sporting) and Mohammed Kudus (Ajax) have been ruled out of the game the Ghana FA has announced.
In view of that, coach Akonnor has handed late call-ups to Turkey-based Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor) and Joseph Paintsil (Ankaragucu) to replace the players missing the game.
Akonnor will be making his coaching debut for the national team against Mali since his appointment early this year and will be hoping to start with a win.
The Black Stars will take on Mali on October 9 before facing off with Asian side Qatar on October 12, 2020.
The two games are preparations for next month 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan.