Ten players from 2021 AFCON squad dropped for Nigeria World Cup playoff
Ten players from the squad that represented Ghana at the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon have been dropped from the team to face Nigeria in the World Cup playoff.
Headlining the list of players dropped from the squad is skipper Andre Ayew who’s out of the squad due to suspension. The Al-Sadd forward was red carded in Ghana’s final group game at the AFCON against Comoros.
Benjamin Tetteh is also out due to suspension. The Yeni Malatysapor striker was sent off and handed a 3-game ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following his involvement in a scuffle in Ghana’s 2nd group game at the AFCON.
Baba Rahman (Reading), Mubarak Wakaso (unattached), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Stade Rennes), David Abagna (Real Tamale United), Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha) and Philemon Baffour (Sporting Lisbon) are out due to injuries.
Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew) and Maxwell Abbey Quaye (Great Olympics) have also been dropped.
In the squad for the playoff are regular faces Thomas Partey, Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku, Andy Yiadom, Gideon Mensah, Daniel Kofi Kyereh and so on.
French-born and Gent midfielder Elisha Owusu earns his maiden call-up. He’s joined by Belgium-born, Club Brugge full back Dennis Odoi and Hearts of Oak left-back Dennis Korsah as players to earn maiden call-up.
Also in the team are returnees Mohammed Kudus, Richard Ofori, Joseph Aidoo, Christopher Antwi Adjei, Kwasi Okyere Wriedt and Yaw Yeboah. AS Roma youngster Felix Afena-Gyan has also been included in the squad.
Despite making the squad, Jordan Ayew is likely not to feature in the first leg of the playoff due to Covid-19. The Crystal Palace forward will have to return a positive coronavirus test in the next few to be available for the game.
Ghana will take on Nigeria in the first leg on Friday, March 25 at the Baba Yara Sports stadium and in the second leg on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The winner of the tie will secure a place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be played in Qatar later this year.
Below is the full squad:
GOALKEEPERS
Goalkeepers: Joseph Wolacott (Swindon Town), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen)
Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC), Dennis Korsah (Hearts of Oak), Gideon Mensah (Girondins Bordeaux), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg FC), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Dennis Odoi (Club Brugge), Abdul Mumin (Vitoria Guimaraes), Montari Kamaheni (Ashdod FC)
Midfielders: Baba Iddrissu (Real Mallorca), Edmund Addo (Sherif Tiraspol), Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal FC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Daniel Kofi Kyere (St. Pauli), Elisha Owusu (Gent)
Wingers: Osman Bukari (Nantes), Joseph Paintsil (Genk), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Sporting Lisbon),, Yaw Yeboah (Columbus Crew)
Strikers: Felix Afena Gyan (AS Roma), Majeed Warris (Strasbourg), Christopher Antwi Adjei (Bochum), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Kwasi Okyere Wreidt (Holstein Kiel)
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