2021 AFCON Draw: Ghana to know group opponents today

The Black Stars of Ghana will know of their group opponents for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament when the draw comes off later today at the Palais des Congrès in Yaounde.

Ghana qualified as group winners in the AFCON qualifiers alongside Sudan for the 24-team tournament to be held in Cameroon next year.

Ahead of the draw to be conducted today, Ghana is in pot 2 and likely to face some top countries in Pot 1 such as hosts Cameroon, Algeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria and Morocco.

Black Stars head coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor and Alex Asante, Head of the National Teams Department and Deputy General Secretary of the GFA will attend the event.

Ghana and 23 other countries will participate in next year’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Cameroon from January 09 to February 6, 2022.

Coach Akonnor will be hoping to lead the Black Stars break the AFCON title drought in this tournament.

Ghana’s all-time leading top scorer Asamoah Gyan has been invited by the Confederation of African football to attend the event.

The Black Stars will take on the Walias of Ethiopia at the Cape Coast stadium on Friday, September 3, before playing South Africa on Monday, September 6, 2021 in Johannesburg in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Below is the list of players invited for the World Cup qualifiers

GOALKEEPERS: 

1. Richard Ofori – Orlando Pirates FC – South Africa
2. Lawrence Ati Zigi – St. Galen FC – Switzerland
3. Manaf Nurudeen – Kas Eupen – Belgium
4. Richard Atta– Hearts of Oak – Ghana

FULL BACKS

5. Benson Anang – Zilina FC – Slovakia
6. Yiadom Andrew – Reading FC – England
7. Baba Abdul Rahman – Chelsea FC – UK
8. Gideon Mensah – FC Girondins Bordeaux – France
9. Baffour Philimon – Dreams FC – Ghana

CENTER BACKS

10. Alexander Djiku – RC Strasbourg – France
11. Daniel Amartey – Leicester City FC- England
12. Ismael Ganiyu – Asante Kotoko – Ghana
13. Jonathan Mensah – Columbus Crew – USA

MIDFIELDERS

14. Mubarak Wakaso – Shenzhen – China
15. Iddrisu Baba – RCD Mallorca – Spain
16. Thomas Partey – Arsenals FC – England
17. Emmanuel Lomotey – Amiens FC – France

WINGERS

18. Joel Fameye – Orenburg FC – Russia
19. Samuel Owusu – Al Fayhad – Saudi Arabia
20. Gyasi Emmanuel – Spezia – Italy
21. Kamal Deen Sulemana – Rennes FC – France
22. Tariq Fosu – Henry – Brentford FC – England
23. Isahaku Fatawu – Steadfast FC – Ghana

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS:

24. Afriyie Banieh – Hearts of Oak – Ghana
25. Kudus Mohamed – Ajax FC – Holland
26. Majeed Ashimeru – RSC Anderlecht- Belgium

STRIKERS

27. Andre Ayew – Al Saad – Qatar
28. Jordan Ayew – Crystal Palace – England
29. Kwame Opoku – USM Algiers – Algeria