Ghana have arrived in South Africa for their friendly international against Bafana Bafana on Tuesday with a weakened squad that does not include star names Jordan Ayew and Afriyie Acquah.
Coach Avram Grant has brought just 18 players with him‚ cutting five from the squad that was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Uganda in their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Friday.
Ayew‚ Acquah and former Free State Stars defender Jonathan Mensah have been ruled out by injuries‚ the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed.
It is a shame for Mensah‚ who was a stand-out performer for Stars in the 18 months he spent in the Free State between 2008 and 2009‚ before he moved on to Italian side Udinese.
He now plays for Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia.
Aston Villa star Ayew’s injury was unspecified‚ while Acquah of Serie A side Torino was stretchered off against Uganda.
The other two players not to travel are Leicester City forward Jeffrey Schlupp and Portuguese-based third-choice goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
But there is still plenty of threat in the Black Stars squad‚ including veteran forward Asamoah Gyan.
The striker is the most celebrated of Ghana’s current crop of players‚ but has never scored before against Bafana in four previous attempts.
The 30-year-old is celebrating 13 years with the national team this year and would love to break that duck.
Udinese midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu is another with vast experience‚ while wingers Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos) and Christian Atsu (Newcastle United) can provide plenty of threat from wide areas.
Orlando Pirates defender Edwin Gyimah has been retained by Grant and could be given a chance to shine at a venue‚ and against players‚ he knows very well.
The response to the home draw with The Cranes has been typically hysterical in Ghana and does pile more pressure on Grant‚ who is also caught in a turf war between the Ghanaian sports ministry and the GFA.
The former wants to set the agenda for the national team and tried to pressure Grant into selecting only home-based players for the dead rubber final Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda in September‚ before the GFA stepped in and backed the coach.
Grant has not won favour with many Black Stars fans either despite leading the side to the Nations Cup final last year‚ where they lost on penalties to Ivory Coast‚ and qualifying them again for the 2017 edition in Gabon.
What Bafana Bafana wouldn’t give to achieve such consistency in continental qualification and performance …
Ghana squad:
Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Cordoba‚ Spain)‚ Adam Kwarasey (Rosenborg‚ Norway)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew‚ USA)‚ Daniel Amartey (Leicester City‚ England)‚ Baba Rahman (Schalke‚ Germany)‚ John Boye (Sivasspor‚ Turkey)‚ Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese‚ Italy)‚ Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid‚ Spain) Enoch Adu Kofi (Malmo‚ Sweden) Samuel Tetteh (Leifering‚ Austria)‚ Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos‚ Greece)‚ Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht‚ Belgium)‚ Christian Atsu (Newcastle United‚ England)‚ Gilbert Koomson (Sogndal‚ Norway)
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ahli‚ UAE)‚ Abdul Waris (Lorient‚ France)‚ David Accam (Chicago Fire‚ USA) - TMG Digital
Ghana arrive in SA with a weakened side but still poses formidable threat to Bafana
Ghana have arrived in South Africa for their friendly international against Bafana Bafana on Tuesday with a weakened squad that does not include star names Jordan Ayew and Afriyie Acquah.
Coach Avram Grant has brought just 18 players with him‚ cutting five from the squad that was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Uganda in their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Friday.
Ayew‚ Acquah and former Free State Stars defender Jonathan Mensah have been ruled out by injuries‚ the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed.
It is a shame for Mensah‚ who was a stand-out performer for Stars in the 18 months he spent in the Free State between 2008 and 2009‚ before he moved on to Italian side Udinese.
He now plays for Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia.
Aston Villa star Ayew’s injury was unspecified‚ while Acquah of Serie A side Torino was stretchered off against Uganda.
The other two players not to travel are Leicester City forward Jeffrey Schlupp and Portuguese-based third-choice goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
But there is still plenty of threat in the Black Stars squad‚ including veteran forward Asamoah Gyan.
The striker is the most celebrated of Ghana’s current crop of players‚ but has never scored before against Bafana in four previous attempts.
The 30-year-old is celebrating 13 years with the national team this year and would love to break that duck.
Udinese midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu is another with vast experience‚ while wingers Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos) and Christian Atsu (Newcastle United) can provide plenty of threat from wide areas.
Orlando Pirates defender Edwin Gyimah has been retained by Grant and could be given a chance to shine at a venue‚ and against players‚ he knows very well.
The response to the home draw with The Cranes has been typically hysterical in Ghana and does pile more pressure on Grant‚ who is also caught in a turf war between the Ghanaian sports ministry and the GFA.
The former wants to set the agenda for the national team and tried to pressure Grant into selecting only home-based players for the dead rubber final Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda in September‚ before the GFA stepped in and backed the coach.
Grant has not won favour with many Black Stars fans either despite leading the side to the Nations Cup final last year‚ where they lost on penalties to Ivory Coast‚ and qualifying them again for the 2017 edition in Gabon.
What Bafana Bafana wouldn’t give to achieve such consistency in continental qualification and performance …
Ghana squad:
Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Cordoba‚ Spain)‚ Adam Kwarasey (Rosenborg‚ Norway)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew‚ USA)‚ Daniel Amartey (Leicester City‚ England)‚ Baba Rahman (Schalke‚ Germany)‚ John Boye (Sivasspor‚ Turkey)‚ Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese‚ Italy)‚ Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid‚ Spain) Enoch Adu Kofi (Malmo‚ Sweden) Samuel Tetteh (Leifering‚ Austria)‚ Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos‚ Greece)‚ Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht‚ Belgium)‚ Christian Atsu (Newcastle United‚ England)‚ Gilbert Koomson (Sogndal‚ Norway)
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ahli‚ UAE)‚ Abdul Waris (Lorient‚ France)‚ David Accam (Chicago Fire‚ USA) - TMG Digital
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