Black Stars coach Akonnor recommended players invited for AFCON qualifiers, no influence from top officials – GFA

Reports went rife in the media that some players invited were fixed in the list at the blind side of Coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor and his technical team.

The call-up received mixed reactions from the fans especially with the inclusion of Colchester United midfielder Kwame Poku, a player in the English second tier.

According to sources, Kwame Opoku’s invite came from the top hierarchy of the Ghana Football Association without the knowledge of the coach.

Henry Asante Twum in an interview has rubbished those reports stating all the players invited were recommended the coach and his technical team.

“CK Akonnor is aware of every player called including Kwame Afriyie”, he told Oyerepa FM.

“Three meetings were held before the Black Stars list was released involving the technical director,

management committee, technical team and International Relations Committee”.

In the call-ups made CK Akonnor, six Ghanaian foreign-based players were handed their debut.

Sources indicate German-born Stephen Ambrosius has rejected the invitation to join the Germany U-21 team for the Euro U-21 Championship.

Some players have also declined the invitation due to the reluctance of their clubs to release them due to quarantine protocols after the trip to South Africa.

Ghana will take on South Africa on March 25 in Johannesburg before engaging Sao Tome and Principe on March 29, 2021, at the Accra Sports stadium.

The Black Stars sit at the top of Group C with 9 points and are in search of one of the tickets to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates – South Africa), Razak Abalora (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), Eric Ofori Antwi (Medeama SC – Ghana), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko- Ghana)

Full Backs: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK – Greece), Gideon Mensah (Vitória de Guimarães – Portugal), Benson Annan (MLK Zilina – Slovakia), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC – Ghana)

Central Defenders: Nicholas Opoku (Amiens SC – France), Kasim Nuhu (1899 Hoffenheim – Germany), Ganiyu Ismael (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), Stephen Ambrosius (Hamburger SV – Germany)

Central Midfield: Kudus Mohammed (Ajax Amsterdam – Holland), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning F.C – China), Afriyie Acquah (Yeni Malatyaspor – Turkey), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens SC – France), Iddrisu Baba (RCD Mallorca – Spain), Gladson Awako (Great Olympics -Ghana), Kwame Afriyie Poku (Colchester United – England)

Left Attacking Midfield: Osman Bukari (Gent – Belgium), Joseph Esso (Dreams FC- Ghana)

Right Attacking Midfield: Kamal Sowah (OH Leuven- Belgium), Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC – Ghana)

Attackers: Emmanuel Boateng (Dalian Professional- China), Emmanuel Gyasi (Spezia – Italy), Kwame Opoku (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), John Antwi (Pyramids FC – Egypt), Kwasi Okyere Wriedt (Willem II – Holland), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor – Turkey)