Ghana coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has for the first time invited Jonathan Mensah, Mubarak Wakaso and John Boye to the Black Stars team ahead of the AFCON double header qualifiers against Sudan next month.



The experienced trio are returning to the Black Stars since the change of management at the senior national team.

Wakaso has been instrumental to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning as they reach the semi finals of the competition, Boye has been consistent with French side FC Metz with Columbus Crew captain Jonathan Mensah leading his side to the play-offs of the MLS.

Another experienced player retuirning to the squad is Harrison Afful of Columbus Crew together with out of favour Chelsea defender Baba Abdul Rahman.

Captain Andre Ayew and his brother, Jordan Ayew-who just recovered from COVID-19 were included in the team together with Arsenal star Thomas Partey.

Akonnor kept faith with most of the players that started the qualifiers against South Africa and São Tomé in his line-up ahead of the game, adding few new names from the friendlies against Mali and Qatar last month.

Ghana have been preparing for the matches with two friendly games against Mali and Qatar.



The West African giants lost 3-0 against the Eagles but recovered to thump 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar 5-1 in the second match.

Coach Akonnor is seeking to continue with the teams flying start to the qualifiers following victories against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in November 2019.

The four-time Africa champions will play as guests to Sudan at the Cape Coast Stadium on Thursday, November 12, before making a trip to Khartoum for the return encounter five days later.

Below is the Black Stars squad for AFCON 2021 qualifiers against Sudan 

Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates FC), Razak Abalora (Asante Kotoko SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen)

Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (Chelsea FC), Gideon Mensah (Vitoria de Guimaraes, Afful Harrison (Columbus Crew FC), Anang Benson (MSK Zilina), Djiku Alexander (Strasbourg FC), John Boye (FC Metz), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens FC), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo)

Midfielders: Partey Thomas (Arsenal FC), Baba Idrissu (RCD Mallorca), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning FC), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens FC)

Forwards/Wingers:

Andre Ayew (Swansea City FC), Tariq Fosu (Brentford), Samuel Owusu (Al-Ahli Jeddah) Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace FC), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor), Jamie Leweling (Greuther Furth), John Antwi (Pyramids FC), Jeffery Schlupp (Crystal Palace)






culled from Ghanasoccernet

The post Breaking: John Boye, Wakaso in Ghana Black Stars squad for Sudan clash; see FULL list first appeared on Sahara Football.

Ghana coach CK Akonnor has retained Swansea City forward Andre Ayew as Black Stars captain in a recent leadership overhaul within the national team setup.



Thomas Partey comes in for the injury-prone midfield gem Kwadwo Asamoah, who was named as vice-captain of the team before the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, as 1st Vice Captain, with goalkeeper Richard Ofori as 2nd Vice-Captain.

Ayew was named as captain of the national team ahead of Gyan, who had always been touted to maintain the armband prior to the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, which generated so many headlines and disunity within the side resulting in Ghana’s failure and untimely exit from that competition.

Hopefully, the trio with a common goal, objective, and motivation to help the nation with the Africa Cup of Nation trophy which has eluded the nation in three decades will rally support for the country ahead of the Afcon and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Many pundits have praised the decision of CK Akonnor saying it’s a step in the right direction to name the leaders of the national team prior to a major competition which could have stirred up potential problems, others have also dug into the discussion suggesting the exits of Asamoah Gyan and John Boye following their recent snub from captaincy roles.

The post CK Akonnor retains Ayew as captain snubbing Gyan and Boye first appeared on Sahara Football.