Nine players have been dropped from CK Akonnor’s initial Black Stars list announced in March for the matches against Sudan which were eventually postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the players dropped are Christopher Antwi (Paderborn – Germany), Tariq Fosu (Brentford FC – England), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning – China), Alfred Duncan (Fiorentina – Italy), Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Red Star Belgrade – Serbia), Yahaya Mohammed (Aduana Stars – Ghana), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak – Ghana), Kwadwo Amoako (Ashgold – Ghana), and Andy Yiadom (Reading – England).
The 46-year-old gaffer did not state why he dropped these nine players with the omission of Mubarak Wakaso, Alfred Duncan, and Richmond Boakye-Yiadom prominent members of the team.
C. K Akonnor however handed debuts to Benson Anang (MSK Zilina – Slovenia), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens SC), Kamal Deen (FC Nordsjælland), John Antwi (Pyramids FC) and Yakubu Mohammed who plays for Azam FC
The Black Stars were initially set to play two friendlies in October, against Mali and Equatorial Guinea but the Equator Guineans announced their decision to pull out, leaving the GFA searching for new opponents to fill the spot.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers
Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United – South Africa)
Razak Abalora (Unattached)
Richard Ati Zigi (St. Gallen – Switzerland)
Defenders
Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg – France)
Lumor Agbenyenu (Sporting Club – Portugal)
Nicholas Opoku (Amiens – France)
Benson Anang (MSK Zilina – Slovenia)
Yakubu Mohammed (Azam FC – Tanzania)
Kasim Nuhu (Fortuna Düsseldorf – Germany)
Joseph Aidoo (Celta de Vigo – Spain)
Gideon Mensah (Vitoria de Guimaraes)
Midfielders
Baba Iddrisu (RCD Mallorca – Spain)
Thomas Partey (Atlético Madrid – Spain)
Kudus Mohammed (Ajax Amsterdam – The Netherlands)
Bernard Mensah (Besikstas – Turkey)
Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens – France)
Forwards
Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha FC – Saudi Arabia)
Andre Ayew (Swansea City – England)
John Antwi (Pyramid FC – Egypt)
Eugene Ansah (Ironi Kiryat Shmona – Israel)
Jeffery Schlupp (Crystal Palace – England)
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace – England)
Kamal Deen (FC Nordsjælland)