As It Happened: Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah names World Cup squad

Published on: 12 May 2014
As It Happened: Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah names World Cup squad
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah arrived at the GFA headquarters

Welcome to the GHANAsoccernet.com’s live text update of the official announcement of the Black Stars squad for the 2014 World Cup.

Reporter Ameenu Shardow is coming to you live from the headquarters of the Ghana FA in Accra.

Coach Kwesi Appiah is expected to name a provisional squad for June’s tournament in Brazil.

Ameenu Shardow - The atmosphere is serene here at the GFA headquarters at 09:00 but with a bit of excitement in the air. The Ghana FA, I am told will be announcing a new sponsorship deal with ICT company Huawei.

The media presence here is swelling with just over two hours to the press conference.

13: 45: Kwesi Appiah explains John Mensah is unfit to

13:26: The assembled press have been given the opportunity to ask questions.

13:25: Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah completes his presentation. The BIG SURPRISES have to be David Accam and Afriyie Acquah.

13:22 Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Abdul Majeed Waris and Jordan Ayew.

13:21 - Midfielders: Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu Afriyie Acquah, Christian Atsu, Albert Adomah, Andre Ayew, Wakaso Mubarak and David Accam.

13:18: Defenders: Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, Jefferey Schlupp, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Rashid Sumaila and Jerry Akaminko.

13:14: Adam Kwarasey is the first to be named, Fatau Dauda and Stephen Adams are the goalkeepers.

13:13: Ghana coach will be naming a 26-man squad. The number will be whittled down to 23 before the team leaves for Miami.

13:09 - GFA boss appeals to Ghanaians to accept the coach's squad and support the Black Stars while he thanks the sponsors.

13:08 - Ghana will be in their white home strip for their opening game at the World Cup against USA, will be in the red strip against Germany and will wear the white in the final group game against Portugal.

13:07 - Two friendly games against the Netherlands and South Korea have been confirmed by Nyantakyi.

13:06 - The team will travel to Brazil on June 11 where they will move to their camping base in Maceio.

13:05: The Black Stars will travel to Miami to play South Korea in a friendly on June 9 and will then return to Washington for a media event.

13:05 - The team will play the Netherlands on May 31 in Rotterdam and will travel to Washington, USA on June 1.

13:04- A farewell match will be played against a local select side after which the team will depart on May 24 to Holland.

13:02- Non residential camping ends on May 23. The Black Stars will then pay a courtesy call to the President John Mahama.

13:01 Non residential camping for the Black Stars will begin on 20th May in Accra, Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi has announced.

13:00 - Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi introducing dignitaries and representatives of Black Stars sponsors.

12:55 - Projector being fixed to start the presentation.

12:54 - Stage being cleared for coach Kwesi Appiah to begin his presentation of the 2014 World Cup squad.

12:49: The new sponsorship agreement for the Black Stars worth $100,000 plus products from Huawei is for one year, Kwesi Nyantakyi has announced.

12:47 - Nyantakyi: 'We are going to outdoor Huawei as the new Information Technology partner of the Black Stars.

12:46 - Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi takes centre stage to announce a new sponsorship deal for the Black Stars.

12:45 - Executive Committee member MNS Doe offers the opening prayer.

12:43 - The room as packed, no space for minimal movement.

12:40- Ghana FA Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie Daara opens the press conference.

12:31 – Supporters Union entertaining the assembled press with intense ‘jama’ songs.

12:20 - Advertising backdrop being fixed at the Ghana FA Conference Room ahead of the announcement. Executive Committee meeting still in session.

 

Backdrop being fixed
Backdrop being fixed
12:01 – Kwesi Appiah will be seated in the middle and will present his squad with the aid of a projector.

Kwesi Appiah will be doing a projector presentation
Kwesi Appiah will be doing a projector presentation
11:40 – The Executive Committee is currently discussing the coach’s selection before it is announced to the assembled media.

11:31 - Supporters Union in full force at the conference room of the Ghana FA.

Supporters Union
Supporters Union
11:22 - Heavy media presence with close to an hour to the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

The press conference room is almost full
The press conference room is almost full
11: 18 - Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi has arrives and immediately goes upstairs for the Executive Committee meeting.

The luxurious automobile of Kwame Ofosu Bamfo (Sikkens)
The luxurious automobile of Kwame Ofosu Bamfo (Sikkens)
11:15 - "The coach has done well in the selection of players since he took over," "So I am not worried about the squad,” ex Ghana captain CK Akunnor told Radio Gold this morning. "I expect a blend of youth and experience. A lot of people know about 15 players going."

11: 06 - Information being gathered by GHANAsoccernet.com suggests Isaac Vorsah and John Mensah failed to make the squad. Jeffery Schlupp however is a surprise inclusion. TO BE CONFIRMED by coach Kwesi Appiah at the press conference at 12:30 GMT.

11:02 - Executive and Black Stars committee member Moses Armah entering the chamber for the Executive Committee meeting.

Executive Committee member Moses Armah
Executive Committee member Moses Armah
10:59 - Car Park at the Ghana FA headquarters almost full with over an hour to the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

Car park filling up
Car park filling up
10: 50: Close pal of Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah, Mickey Charles, says the coach will name a 26-man squad.

10:36 - Ghana FA Executive Committee member Randy Abbey arrives but says he was not aware of today’s Executive Committee meeting.

Executive Committee member Randy Abbey
Executive Committee member Randy Abbey
10: 18 - Black Stars management committee member Kwame Ofosu Bamfo (Sikkens) makes an entrance.

Executive Committee member Felix Ansong arrives
Executive Committee member Felix Ansong arrives
10:09 - Executive Committee member Felix Ansong also arrives. He says: “I am expecting an exciting squad but no surprises. I have not yet seen the squad.”

Executive Committee member Fred Pappoe
Executive Committee member Fred Pappoe
09:59 - Executive Committee member Fred Pappoe arrives and says: "I am expecting a squad that Kwesi Appiah can work with.”

09:53 - Assistant coach Maxwell Konadu will not here arrive as he has travelled to the United States to inspect the Black Stars camping base. He was in Holland over the weekend.

09:51 - Asked what Ghanaians should be expecting from his announcement, Kwesi Appiah responded: "That you will be named in the squad."

09:47 - Coach Kwesi Appiah arrives in a light blue suit, a white shirt and a blue tie full of smiles.

09:37 - The technical staff make their way upstairs into the coach's chamber.

09:34 - Head coach and assistant Kwesi Appiah and Maxwell Konadu respectively are the ones left to complete the technical staff gathering here.

09:32 – Members of the Black Stars technical team have already arrived for a meeting before meeting executives of the Ghana FA. Team Manager Sabahn Quaye, Kits officer Ishmael, Masseur S.K, team doctor Baba Adamu, Psychologist Prof. Mintah and Physio have all arrived.

90:30 – The room being prepared for today’s grand announcement. A projector is being prepared for the press conference. That will be a novelty to this ritual of squad announcements.

 

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