Black Stars head coach, CK Akonnor has dropped sixteen players from the 25 locally-based players he called up for camp ahead of the AFCON 2021 qualifying matches against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe.
Coach Akonnor has been training with 25 home-based players in Accra for the past four weeks but has settled on nine of those players for the two crucial games.
They include Gladson Awako, Joseph Esso, Ismael Ganiyu, Razak Abalora, Eric Ofori Antwi and Kwame Opoku.
Black Satellites trio, Danlad Ibrahim, Philemon Baffuor and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku have also been named.
The 16, who did not make the squad include:
Goalkeeper: Joseph Addo (Aduana FC)
Defenders: Yusif Mubarik (Asante Kotoko), Konadu Yiadom (WAFA), Ibrahim Moro (Asante Kotoko), Haruna Jamal Deen (Great Olympics), Christopher Nettey (Asante Kotoko) Joseph Agyei (Legon Cities), Dennis Korsah (Ebusua Dwarfs)
Midfielders: Justice Blay (Medeama SC), Michel Otou (Great Olympics), Yaw Annor (Ashanti Gold SC), Rashid Nortey (Medeama SC), Maxwell Abbey (Great Olympics), Salifu Moro (Bechem United),
Forwards: Kwame Peprah (King Faisal), Diawusie Taylor (Karela United)
This is Akonnor’s squad for the two games:
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates – South Africa), Razak Abalora (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), Eric Ofori Antwi (Medeama SC – Ghana), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko- Ghana)
Full Backs: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK – Greece), Gideon Mensah (Vitória de Guimarães – Portugal), Benson Annan (MLK Zilina – Slovakia), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC – Ghana)
Central Defenders: Nicholas Opoku (Amiens SC – France), Kasim Nuhu (1899 Hoffenheim – Germany), Ganiyu Ismael (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), Stephen Ambrosius (Hamburger SV – Germany)
Central Midfield: Kudus Mohammed (Ajax Amsterdam – Holland), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning F.C – China), Afriyie Acquah (Yeni Malatyaspor – Turkey), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens SC – France), Iddrisu Baba (RCD Mallorca – Spain), Gladson Awako (Great Olympics -Ghana), Kwame Afriyie Poku (Colchester United – England)
Left Attacking Midfield: Osman Bukari (Gent – Belgium), Joseph Esso (Dreams FC- Ghana)
Right Attacking Midfield: Kamal Sowah (OH Leuven- Belgium), Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC – Ghana)
Attackers: Emmanuel Boateng (Dalian Professional- China), Emmanuel Gyasi (Spezia – Italy), Kwame Opoku (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), John Antwi (Pyramids FC – Egypt), Kwasi Okyere Wriedt (Willem II – Holland), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor – Turkey)
Ghana face South Africa on Thursday 25th March, 2021 before engaging Sao Tome and Principe three days later on Sunday March 28, 2021 at home.
Three points from the two games will guarantee Ghana a place at next year’s AFCON in Cameroon.