Injured Mensah in Ghana squad, Muntari stays out

Published on: 24 September 2010

Ghana caretaker coach Akwasi Appiah has named John Mensah in the squad to face Sudan next month even though the defender is injured, the squad released by the Ghana FA has revealed.

Two players, Emmanuel Clottey and Seth Owusu, who play in the local league, were handed their debut calls to the national team.

Sulley Muntari, who had disciplinary problems with former coach Milovan Rajevac, was excluded from the 20-man team.

Holland-based striker Matthew Amoah, who is among the leading scorers in the Dutch top flight, was left out of the squad for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Accra.

Also axed is goalkeeper Daniel Agyei of Liberty Professionals who seems to have paid the price for his poor showing against Kotoko in one of their early league matches.

Several players who played in last month's qualifier against Swaziland in Mbabane were retained but the inclusion the Sunderland's Mensah has surprised many.

But it is thought he has given the coaching staff assurances about his fitness which resulted in the call-up.

Muntari's permanent axing for the Black Stars has consistently been denied by the Ghana FA but the change in coaching staff has not improved his national team prospects.

The Inter ace has been playing some matches for his club this term in the Italian Serie A but he has still been excluded.

Owusu and Clottey who play for Kessben and Bechem Chelsea have been called up because of their form in the local league.

Key players Andre Ayew, Kwadwo Asmaoah and Kevin Prince Boateng were all named in the squad.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Blackpool, England), Isaac Amoako (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England) Samuel Inkoom (Basel, Switzerland) Hans Adu-Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea, Ghana) Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany) John Mensah (Sunderland, England) Seth Owusu (Kessben FC, Ghana)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Andre Ayew (Marseille, France) Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan, Italy) Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios FC, Greece)

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland, England), Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana) Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany) Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France)

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