Top 10 Foreign-based starlets likely to make Ghana U20 squad for Turkey

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson

The Black Satellites have booked passage to Turkey after reaching the final of the African Youth Championship in Algeria. 

Only two players (Frank Sarfo Gyamfi and Baba Mensah) joined the team from abroad but there are more who would gatecrash the Sellas Tetteh squad.

Ghanasoccernet.com picks the top ten players who are likely to be on the flight to Turkey in June.

Joseph Alfred Duncan - Inter Milan (midfielder)

The 20-year-old in the fan-belt of the Livorno midfield since joining them on loan at the start of the second round.

Duncan trained with the Black Satellites last June and he hugely impressed technical handlers.

Duncan has international exposure with Inter's Primavera squad as he helped them to win the maiden edition of the NextGens Series tournament last season.

He made a handful of first team appearances for Inter at the first half of the season before moving to the Stadio Armando Picchi.

The former Aggrey Memorial student's imposing presence and deft could be a big asset.

Isaac Donkor - Inter Milan (defender)

Though the Kumasi-born is yet to make an appearance at the Giuseppe Meazza, the 17-year-old made a second half appearance for Andrea Stramaccioni's side when they lost 3-0 to Russian side Rubin Kazan' in the Europa League last November.

Donkor's powerful presence in central defence is a priced asset at the Appiano Gentile.

He is currently playing in the NextGen Series for Inter in their title defence.

Yussif Raman Chibsah - Sassuolo (midfielder)

The former Juventus starlet has been one of the main stories behind Sassuolo's successful season in the Serie B.

Chibsah has made 20 appearances this term and scored once from a combative midfield role.

He was among 19 foreign-based players who were invited by Orlando Wellington and trained with the team at the Presec Park in Legon.

Paul Quaye - Espanyol (midfielder)

Last season, Quaye became the youngest ever foreigner to play in the Spanish La Liga after coming off the bench as a second half substitute.

The 17-year-old's uncle is the late Hearts of Oak great Shamo Quaye and is renowned for his unique style of dealing with midfield challenges.

Though he is yet to make a first team appearance for Espanyol in the current season, he is making his mark in the Segunda B where he has swept 8 MVP awards.

Thomas Teye Partey - Atletico Madrid (midfielder)

Atletico Madrid is one of Europe's clubs renowned for giving opportunities to young talented but they do not just pick any talent.

Partey, 19, made his senior team debut for the capital club - that coming in the 2-1 friendly win over Columbian side Millonarios last May.

The lanky middle man has the ability to combine Xavi, Iniesta and Alonso, setting him apart with his colleagues.

A La Liga debut could be in the line for the former Tema Youth midfielder.

He has three goals in 28 games from midfielder for Atletico Madrid B in the running season.

Zak Ansah - Arsenal (forward)

Arsenal's own Wayne Rooney. The 18-year-old's dad still has issues to sort out with the Ghana Football Association after he jabbed them for what he claims is poor organisation.

Ansah's talent has never been in doubt but what he made him a rebel in North London is his open support for rivals Manchester United.

An exciting talent with an eye for goal, Zak was forced to play out of his comfort zone at the beginning of the season in a deep-lying central midfield role for the Under-18s.

Zak is equally adept out wide or through the middle and would exciting to watch in the Ghana shirt in Turkey.

The GFA must work to resolve the impasse with his father and get him for Sellas Tetteh.

Baba Abdul Rahman - Greuther Furth (left-back)

Baba was rewarded for his consistency in the German Bundesliga with a senior Ghana call though he was an unused substitute in the 4-0 win over Sudan at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The former Asante Kotoko youngster has made 12 appearances for struggling Greuther Furth and could play an instrumental role in Satellites' campaign.

Said Ahmed Said - Genoa (forward) A product of Inter Milan youth team.

Kumasi-born grew through the ranks at Inter and made his name a prolific goal getter.

Said, 19, then joined Genoa after leaving Inter and scored his debut Serie A goal in a 4-2 home loss to Chievo Verona.

He could be a solution to our frailties in attack.

Frank Acheampong - Anderlecht (forward)

The former King Faisal playmaker was crucial in securing qualification to Algeria.

Though he has been limited to U21 games at Anderlecht where he is on loan from Thai side Buriram United, his pace, flair and explosiveness has ever been present.

Nasiru Mohammed - BK Hacken (attacker)

Nasiru Mohammed is certainly the man to watch in the upcoming Swedish Allsvenskan season.

The pocket-size attacker made great out of small on his debut season in the Swedish top-tier.

Nasiru has national team experience as he captained the Ghana U17 side in 2010.

Before leaving second-tier side Rainbow FC for BK Hacken, he was member of the squad.

He is ambidextrously dangerous and scored three classy goals for Hacken last season and would bring something extra to the team.