Appiah’s men for Brazil

The worst fears of Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah, and many a Ghanaian were confirmed minutes after the Ghana-Holland game last Saturday when trusted defender Jerry Akaminko was ruled out of the Brazil 2014 World Cup in a heart-breaking manner through injury.

As fate would have it, the Eskisehirspor defender was stretchered off the field motionless after landing awkwardly from an aerial challenge late in the game and twisting his left ankle in the process. It forced Coach Appiah to drop him hours to the naming of Ghana’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Unlike Akaminko, however, the dropping of the two other casualties — Jeffrey Schlupp and David Accam — might not come as a surprise to many, especially considering their few caps which make them too inexperienced for the rigours of the big stage.

The talking point now is which player Akaminko had to sacrifice for, since that last card had been rumoured to be a big headache for Coach Appiah and his technical staff days to the naming of the final team.

In the process, combative midfielder Afriyie Acquah emerged as the biggest gatecrasher, following his splendid form for Serie A side Parma this season, while Mamelodi Sundowns centre-back, Rashid Sumaila, came through as a big surprise for many.

The output of the other players who made the final team in last saturday’s match was equally promising, except skipper Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari, John Boye, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Daniel Opare, Jonathan Mensah, and goalkeepers Fatau Dauda and Stephen Adams, who merely watched from the bench as their teammates lost 1-0 to a highly fancied Dutch side.

Ghana's final 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan).
Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke 04), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux).