Ghana name uncapped young quartet in Africa Cup Nations squad, - Kwadwo Asamoah, Schlupp excluded

Published on: 02 January 2017
Ghana name uncapped young quartet in Africa Cup Nations squad, - Kwadwo Asamoah, Schlupp excluded
Black Stars squad

Ghana coach Avram Grant has named four uncapped youngsters Ebenezer Ofori, Joseph Larweh Attamah, Bernard Tekpetey and Rahpael Dwamena while surprisingly leaving out Leicester City ace Jeffery Schlupp from his 26-man provisional squad for the 2017 Africa Cup Nations.

The Israeli coach controversially left out Juventus playmaker Kwadwo Asamoah and Leicester City ace Jeffery Schlupp as well as suspended duo of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari who had expressed interest in returning.

Key Ghana players Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, Christian Atsu and Jonathan Mensah all named in the squad.

Mensah and Edwin Gyimah were named in the squad despite fitness concerns but it looks like the coach is certain they will be fit for the tournament.

Schlupp's Leicester team-mate, Daniel Amartey, was included as was another English Premier League player, Andre 'Dede' Ayew of West Ham.

Aston Villa's Jordan Ayew - Andre's brother - was one of three English Championship players named, alongside Christian Atsu of Newcastle and Andy Diadom of Barnsley.

The squad which is dominated by players who played in the qualifiers saw one regular player in the squad David Accam excluded.

Other players axed from the squad are defensive pair of Nuru Sulley and Rashid Sumaila who were popular players among the supporters following their impressive showing at their clubs sides.

Dwamena, the 23-goal man at the halfway stage of the Austria second tier looks to have won the heart of the coach with his goals at training last week.

Tekpetey who plays for German side Schalke will get the chance for his showing in the wings while Sweden-based Ofori looks to be the like-for-like replacement for Kwadwo Asamoah.

The Black Stars will now go to the UAE for a training camp from where Grant will reveal his final squad of 23 by the 4 January deadline.

The tournament kicks off in Gabon on 14 January.

Ghana will be based in Port-Gentil where they will face Mali, Egypt and Uganda in Group D.

The Black Stars' first match will be against Uganda on 17 January.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Cordoba, Spain), Adam Kwarasey (Rosenborg, Norway) Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Andy Yiadom (Barnsley, England), Baba Rahman (Schalke, Germany), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), (John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey), Jonathan Mensah (Anzhi, Russia), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England), Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain) Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos, Greece), Christian Atsu (Newcastle, England), Ebenezer Ofori (AIK Stockholm, Sweden), Samuel Tetteh (Leifering, Austria), Joseph Larweh Attamah (BaÅŸakÅŸehir, Turkey)

Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ahli, UAE) Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa, England), Abdul-Majeed Waris (Lorient, France), Andre Ayew (West Ham, England), Ebenezer Assifuah (Sion, Switzerland), Bernard Tekpetey (Schalke, Germany), Rahpael Dwamena (Austria Lustenau, Austria)

What do you think about the Ghana squad? Do you think the right players have been called? Please make your views known in the box below:

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