Ghana Black Stars squad for friendlies against Morocco and Ivory Coast
Ghana coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has named a 30-man squad for the upcoming friendlies against Morocco and Ivory Coast next month.
Akonnor’s squad is a mix of both experienced and new players invited during the AFCON qualifiers in March.
The Black Stars will take on the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the first friendly in Rabat, Morocco.
The second game against the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire will come off at the Accra Sports Stadium later in June.
The former Ghana captain is using the international break to prepare his team for the World Cup qualifiers and next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The team had been scheduled to start the World Cup qualifiers next month but the Confederation of Africa Football postponed the matches slated for the month to the next international break.
The Black Stars are chasing a fifth elusive AFCON title after last winning it in 1982.
Below is the squad for the friendlies:
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates), Razak Abalora (Asante Kotoko), Ibrahim Danlad (King Faisal)
Left-back: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Gideon Mensah (Vitoria Guimaraes)
Right-back: Andy Yaidom (Reading FC), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC)
Centre-back: Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg FC), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Ismail Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko), Joseph Adjei (Legon Cities), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens FC)
Midfield: Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen FC), Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Kudus Mohammed (Ajax Amsterdam), Rashid Nortey (Medeama SC), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens SC), Gladson Awako (Great Olympics), Baba Idrissu (RCD Mallorca)
Left Wing: Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha FC), Emmanuel Gyasi (Spezia), Frank Acheampong (Shenzhen FC), Tariqe Fosu Henry (Brentford FC)
Right Wing: Kamal Sowah (OH Leuven), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Nordsjaelland)
Forward: Andre Ayew (Swansea City FC), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace FC), Kwame Opoku (USM Alger), Joseph Paintsil (Ankaragucu)
