Essien, who played his last match for Real Madrid last Sunday after a season loan, is expected to announce his availability for the Black Stars after featuring alongside a host of world-class players in a charity match at the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Last week, the Graphic Sports reported that the player had planned to make his international future known after the Africa XI versus World XI charity game being organised by the Michael Essien Foundation. And only three days ago, the Chelsea star revealed in an interview with Accra-based Asempa FM that he was bitterly disappointed to have missed the 2010 World Cup in South Africa because of injury but was ready to help Ghana qualify for Brazil 2014, a statement which suggests he was ready to end his self-imposed exile since 2010.
“The experience of playing at the World Cup is something I will never forget.
“I was disappointed I could not play for my country at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa because of the injury I had,” he said.
“I am praying we all join hands together and push the country to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and do well at the competition.”
In 2011, Essien asked to be excused from international duty due to concern about his fitness following recurrent injuries which resulted in the midfielder losing his place in Chelsea’s first team under former coach Roberto de Matteo until Jose Mourinho rescued his flagging career with a loan deal at Madrid in January.
Now fully fit, Essien is expected to officially confirm his return to the Stars after his charity match, “The Game of Hope”, which features world-class players, including Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Djibril Cisse, Michael Ballack, among others.
He will thus be available to play for the Black Stars in September’s crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Kumasi.
Meanwhile, Essien’s return could also pave the way for the return of the Ayew brothers — Andre and Jordan — who asked to be excused from international duty following a stormy relationship with the Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah, and the Ghana FA after being dropped from the team which played in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Graphic sport’s understands that, following appeals by the public and other third parties for their early return, the Olympique Marseille duo are expected to announce their comeback next week.
