Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah is expected to submit to FIFA a list of 30 players to constitute his provisional World Cup squad before seven players are eventually given the chop for Ghana’s final squad for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Appiah, who is on a working visit to English Premiership side Liverpool with his backroom staff, has up to the last week of April to furnish football’s world governing body with Ghana’s provisional squad as per FIFA regulations for the tournament.
The media was abuzz at the weekend with reports that Coach Appiah, who only last month said he had 80 per cent of his squad ready, had finalised his 30-man provisional squad which included veterans John Mensah and goalkeeper Richard Kingson.
However, GFA spokesman, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, in an interview with the Graphic Sports, denied knowledge of any such provisional list, but said he was aware that FIFA had sent a circular to all 32 qualified nations to furnish it with their provisional squads by the last week of next month or latest by the first week of May.
“I know FIFA had sent a circular that all qualified nations must send their provisional lists at least a month ahead of the tournament and we shall comply with that directive,” said the GFA Director of Communications.
However, Accra-based radio station Asempa FM indicated that Appiah had finalised his 30-man list which included the centre-back Mensah, who plays for Slovakia top flight side FC Nitra, Turkey-based Kingson and sensational young goalie Stephen Adams of Aduana Stars.
A few weeks ago, Coach Appiah had indicated he would take a gamble on the experienced Mensah, who captained the Black Stars at their last World Cup if the defender returned to competitive action.
According to the report by Asempa FM, other players in Coach Appiah’s provisional list include Austria-based Isaac Vorsah, who has returned from injury, and regulars such as Michael Essien, Rabiu Mohammed, Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Andre Ayew.
However, a surprise name was midfielder Anthony Annan, who has struggled to earn playing time at German side Schalke and has also been absent from the national team since the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.
Full list:
Goalkeepers: Fatau Dauda, Adam Kwarasey, Stephen Adams, Richard Kingson.
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, Abdul Baba Rahman, Jerry Akaminko, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Rasheed Sumaila, John Mensah, Isaac Vorsah.
Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Michael Essien, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mubarak Wakasu, Christian Atsu, Albert Adomah, Sulley Muntari, Andre Ayew, Kevin-Prince Boateng,
Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Abdul Majeed Waris, Jordan Ayew, Richmond Boayke-Yiadom and Mahatma Otoo.
