Reading left-back Baba Abdul Rahman and Sporting Lisbon youngster Fatawu Issahaku had no place in the latest Black Stars squad named by Chris Hughton ahead of Ghana’s double-header against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Baba Rahman has played six of Ghana’s last seven games including all three matches at the 2022 World Cup but was dropped by the 63-year-old manager due to injury.
Fatawu Issahaku on the other hand was on the verge of restoring his form after scoring a hattrick for Sporting Lisbon U19 in the UEFA Youth League last week but his performance has not been enough to get into the squad.
Sheriff Tiraspol player Patrick Kpozo is the only new name in the squad and the 25-year-old is expected to fill the void for Baba Rahman.
Another youngster who couldn’t make it into the squad is Cremonese forward Felix Afena-Gyan who played an integral part in Ghana’s qualification to the World Cup when he led the attack against Nigeria in the play-off.
There were no local-based players in the squad as Ibrahim Danlad failed to maintain his spot upon the return of Joseph Wollacott who has recovered from a finger injury which kept him out of the 2022 World Cup.
Joseph Painstil and Majeed Ashimeru return to the squad after being left out of Ghana’s previous squad.
The team is tasked to churn out results against the Palancas Negras on March 23, at the Baba Yara Stadium and later travel to Luanda for the return leg.
Both teams have four points in Group E and deem the upcoming matchup a crucial one to decide their fate.
Here is the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi (FC St. Gallen), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Joseph Wollacott (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Patrick Kpozo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton FC), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg)
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Majeed Ashimeru (RSC Anderlecht), Abdul Salis Samed (Lens), Edmund Addo (Spartak Subotica)
Wingers: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Joseph Painstil (Genk), Kamal Deen Sulemana (Southampton FC), Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer (Hamburger SV)
Forwards: Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Andre Ayew (Nottingham Forest), Kamal Sowah (Club Brugge), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth)
