Andre Ayew, Baba Rahman excluded as Partey, Lamptey return to Black Stars in Hughton's latest call-up
In the latest squad announcement by coach Chris Hughton, Black Stars' skipper Andre Ayew has been notably omitted from the 23-man roster for the national team's forthcoming international friendly matches against Mexico and the United States of America later this month.
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Ayew, who has been without a club since his short-term contract with English Premier League (EPL) club Nottingham Forest concluded in July, finds himself on the sidelines for these fixtures.
In a previous announcement in September, Hughton defended his decision to include Andre Ayew in the squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, highlighting Ayew's significance as the team's captain and acknowledging his contributions.
Baba Abdul Rahman, the PAOK star who faced jeers from fans during the Black Stars' encounter with the Central African Republic in the final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September, is another player who did not make the cut.
The Black Stars are slated to take on Mexico at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday, October 14, followed by a match against the United States of America on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee.
These friendly matches are viewed as pivotal in preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers scheduled for November and the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Several key players are making their return to the squad, including EPL duo Thomas Teye Partey and Tariq Lamptey, who were previously sidelined due to injuries. Lamptey, in particular, earns his first call-up since the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Daniel Amartey, the Besiktas defender who missed last month's AFCON qualifier due to an injury, has also been recalled.
Notably, Abdul Fatawu Hamidu of Medeama SC retains his position in the team as the sole locally-based player in the 23-man squad.
See the entire squad below;
