Chris Hughton names first Black Stars squad for Angola double-header
New Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has announced his first squad ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Angola this month.
The 25-man squad consists largely of players who were part of Ghana’s World Cup squad in Qatar last year.
Hughton has made some notable additions to the team, including the in-form forward Joseph Paintsil, who surprisingly missed out on the World Cup squad.
Other returning players include Joseph Wollacott, who missed the tournament due to a broken finger, as well as Majeed Ashimeru, Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Edmund Addo.
The squad is led by captain Andre Ayew, and features other key players such as Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Mohammed Kudus, who was Ghana’s standout player in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Reading defender Baba Rahman has been left out as well as youngster Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Hughton will be hoping that his team can secure two positive results against Angola to boost their chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Black Stars will host Palancras Negras at the Baba Yara Sports stadium on Thursday, March 23 before travelling to Luanda on March 27, 2023, for the reverse fixture.
Ghana are joint top of the Group E table with four points from two games following a 3-0 win over Madagascar and a 1-1 draw with Central African Republic in June last year.
Here is the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi (FC St. Gallen), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Joseph Wollacott (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Patrick Kpozo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton FC), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg).
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Majeed Ashimeru (RSC Anderlecht), Abdul Salis Samed (Lens), Edmund Addo (Spartak Subotica)
Wingers: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Joseph Painstil (Genk), Kamal Deen Sulemana (Southampton FC), Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer (Hamburger SV)
Forwards: Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Andre Ayew (Nottingham Forest), Kamal Sowah (Club Brugge), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth).
Source: 3news.com
