Ghana’s senior men’s national team, the Black Stars have begun preparations for their final African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tie against the Central African Republic.
The Black Stars lead Group E with nine points but could be eliminated on goal difference if Angola who are currently second with eight points, beat bottom-placed Madagascar and the Ghanaians lose at home to Central African Republic.
As Ghana seeks to be counted among the 24 nations that will qualify for the Cote’ d’Ivoire 2023 AFCON, they will need to take matters into their own hands and ensure a victory over their Central African Republic counterparts in Kumasi on Thursday.
The four-time African champions could also qualify with a draw but the fans in Kumasi will certainly settle for nothing except a resounding victory. The handlers of the Stars are aware of this fact and have therefore selected a strong side dominated by 24 foreign-based players. There was only one local-based player – Jonathan Sowah- of Medeama SC who made the squad for this assignment.
Ghana squad against Central Africa Republic
Goalkeepers:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Richard Ofori
Defenders:
Alidu Seidu, Kingsley Schindler, Stephan Ambrosius, Joseph Aidoo, Alexander Djiku, Nicholas Opoku, Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah
Midfielders:
Abdul Samed Salis, Baba Iddissu, Andre Ayew, Elisha Owusu, Edmund Addo, Mohammed Kudus, Ransford Koningsdorffer
Forwards:
Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Osman Bukari, Joseph Painstil, Jonathan Sowah