Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic says he picked youngster Massawudu Alhassan ahead of Harrison Afful because the former is a natural left-footer.
The 18-year-old Genoa youth team left-back was picked as one of the left-back in Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations provisional squad.
Afful made a strong case for a return to the Ghana squad by scoring the final winning goal which earned Esperance the Caf Champions League trophy.
But the Serbian trainer feels Alhassan's potentials could help his quest to win the title.
"Massawudu Alhassan is young and a natural left-footer. I decided to pick him because he is quicker and I feel he can help me better," he said.