Coach Charles Akonnor, head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars of Ghana has invited twenty-three (23), including (six) debutants for the friendly match against Mali next month.
The Ghana Football Association on Thursday confirmed, the country’s senior male football team will be engaging in a friendly match against the west African country in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, October 9, 2020 as part of the preparations for the 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Sudan in November this year.
Coach CK Akonnor, who was appointed as head coach of the Black Stars in February 2020 has thus invited 25 players for the match against Mali comprising of five new players.
Akonnor, who’s yet to play his first match with the team affirmed his desire to give young players the chance based on merit not long ago. Hence, it’s not surprising, he has invited five new players to begin their national team career with the Black Stars.
Below is the list of new players invited by CK Akunnor into the Black Stars;
- Benson Anang (Zilina FC)
2. Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg),
3. Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens),
4. Yakubu Mohammed (Azam FC)
5 Eugene Ansah (Hapoel Shmona)
6. Kamal Deen (Nordsjaelland SC)
Meanwhile, the GFA is in search to secure another match for the team in a separate friendly after Equatorial Guinea pulled out from the initial fixture. Ghana is on top Group F with 6 points after two wins against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in November 2019.
Check the full 23-man squad below:
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Maritzburg), Richard Ati Zigi (St. Gallen), Razak Abalora (Unattached)
Full Backs: Benson Anang (Zilina FC), Lumor Agbenyenu (Sporting Club), Yakubu Mohammed (Azam FC), Gideon Mensah (Vitoria de Guimaraes)
Centre Backs: Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Joseph Aidoo (Celta de Vigo), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens), Kassim Nuhu (Hoffenheim)
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens), Bernard Mensah (Besiktas), Baba Iddrisu (RCD Mallorca)
Attackers/Wingers: Andre Ayew (Swansea), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), John Antwi (Pyramids FC), Eugene Ansah (Hapoel Shmona), Jefferey Schlupp (Crystal Palace), Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha FC), Kamal Deen (Nordsjaelland SC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax SC)
By: Steven Zando