Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has named an astonishing 25-man squad for Ghana’s game against the Central African Republic (CAR) in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Despite the captain Andre Ayew’s current situation of being without a club, he has been handed a surprise invite while deputy captain Thomas Partey missed out due to injury.
According to a statement released by the Ghana Football Association, the team doctor Prince Pambo explains that “He [Partey] sustained a groin injury during training on Thursday, August 31, 2023. He is currently unavailable as Club Doctors predict he’s likely to be out for a couple of weeks.”
Meanwhile, the squad also had some players return to the squad including Auxerre duo Gideon Mensah and Elisha Owusu, and Baba Iddrisu from Mallorca whose World Cup miss in 2022 was shrouded in some controversy among others.
There is also the return of Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo and Richard Ofori among others.
Medeama SC striker Jonathan Sowah earned his debut call-up making him the second local-based player to earn an invitation under Chris Hughton after former Bechem United striker Hafiz Konkoni. German-based defender Stephan Ambrosius also got the nod for the crucial encounter.
The players are expected to begin touching down in Ghana on Monday to begin preparations for the crucial encounter scheduled for Thursday, September 7, 2023, at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Ghana must avoid defeat to sail through to the 2023 AFCON to be held in Ivory Coast next year.
Below is the list of the full squad
Goalkeepers
Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Richard Ofori
Defenders
Alidu Seidu, Kingsley Schindler, Stephan Ambrosius, Joseph Aidoo, Alexander Djiku, Nicholas Opoku, Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah
Midfielders
Abdul Samed Salis, Baba Iddissu, Andre Ayew, Elisha Owusu, Edmund Addo, Mohammed Kudus, Ransford Koningsdorffer
Forwards
Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Osman Bukari, Joseph Painstil, Jonathan Sowah
