Ghana Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton has named a strong 25 man squad to face Central African Republic (CAR) in the final round of the African cup of nations qualifiers in Kumasi Baba Yara Sports Stadium on the 7th of September 2023.

Arsenal ace Thomas Partey, Daniel Amartey, Majeed Ashimeru, Jojo Wollacot all missed out on the squad due to injury the communications director has confirmed.

Also Baba Iddrisu, Richard Ofori who missed out on the 2022 Fifa world cup in Qatar have returned to the team. 

Medeama’s star man Jonathan Sowah is the only local based player to be included in the team. The prolific striker helped the Yellow and Mauve team to win the Ghana premier league for the first time scoring 12 goals in the process.

The 34th edition of the Afcon will be hosted in Ivory Coast. The Black Stars of Ghana is looking ahead to win their 5th trophy after 44 years and just need a draw to qualify.

*The squad*:

*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-Yeboah Koningsdorffer

*Forwards*

Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Osman Bukari, Joseph Painstil, Jonathan Sowah

The senior national team of Ghana Black Stars have been drawn in group 1 with the Eagles  of Mali, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros and Chad. 

Ghana was in pot B alongside Burkina Faso, South Africa, Cape Verdi, Dr Congo, Guinea, Zambia, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The draw was held in Abidjan Cote D’Ivoire during the 45th CAF general assembly 

The Black Stars have made four appearance in the Fifa world with their first in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022 and looking for their fifth in 2026. They are the only county in group 1 with a world cup experience. 

The African qualifiers matches huh will commence in November 2023 and will be played over a period of two years. The country that tops the group automatically secures qualification to the Mundial. 

The other best four runners up will play CAF tournament and FIFA play offs to determine the 10th country to represent Africa. 

The 23rd Fifa world cup 2026 will be hosted in three North American countries USA, Canada and Mexico in 16 cities. The first to be hosted by three nations and the first to increase the teams from 32 to 48. 

Ghana Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton has named a strong team to face Madagascar for the upcoming 23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The squad includes;

GOAL KEEPERS
Lawrence Atizigi (St Gallen, Switzerland)
Jojo Wollacot (Charlto Athletic, England)
Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen, Belgium)

DEFENDERS
Dennis Odoi (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Alidu Seidu (Clemenfoot, France)
Gideon Mensah ( Auxurre, France )
Patrick Kpozo (Sheriff Tiraspol, Moldovia)
Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England)
Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo, Spain)
Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg, France)
Nicholas Opoku (Amiens, France)

MIDFIELDERS
Thomas Partey (Arsenal, England)
Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam)
Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht, Belgium)
Salis Abdul Samed (Lens, France)
Edmund Addo (Spartak Subotica, Serbia)

WINGERS
Joseph Painstil (Genk, Belgium)
Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)
Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton, England)
Ernest Nuamah (FC Nordjaelland, Denmark)

ATTACKERS
Adre Ayew (Nottingham Forest, England)
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England)
Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao, Spain)
Kwesi Okyere Wriedt (Holstein Kiel)

FC Nordjaelland star Ernest Nuamah received his maiden call up into the senior national whiles there were no space for any local based player.

The match will be played at stade Kianja Barea in Antananarivo, Madagascar in June 18.

Ghana occupy the first position of group E with 8 points and need just a point to qualify for the next edition of the African cup of nations which will be hosted by Ivory Coast

Ghanaian international Tariq Lamptey was in the stands to cheer his colleagues up to victory against Madagascar.

The Brighton Holves Albion defender is in the the final stages to switch his nationality to Ghana. He made 20 appearance for his club at the just ended season. The 20 year old joined from Chelsea in 2021.

The Black Stars of Ghana took a flying start to their afcon qualifiers scoring three unanswered goals against Madagascar. Goals from kudus Mohamed, Afena Gyan and Osman Bukari secured the victory for the Stars.

coach Otto Addo men face CAR on Sunday in their second qualifying game.

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Ghanaian international Mubarak Wakasu has lead his team Jiangsu Sunning to win the Chinese super league in a grand style.
Goals from Portugal and Brazilian forward, Elder Mertins and Alex Teixeira respectively solidified that emphatic win over Guangzou after the first leg has ended in a draw. Wakasu was very instrumental in that game and worked tirelessly throughout the 90 minutes.

The 30 year old midfielder joined the Chinese side early this year from Alaves for only £4. He has so far made 16 appeaeance.

This marks his major career trophy. On his Instagram page expressed his excitement by writing “wonderful joyous happiness, one of the most important things in life”.

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Arsenal midfielder Thomas Teye Partey limped off the pitch due to a thigh injury during their shameful 3:0 defeat against Aston Vila in their match week eight of the English Premier League.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta after the game divulge, the defensive midfielder is set to go through a scan on his thigh to assess the degree of the injury sustained.

The 27 year old Ghanaian international will also not be available for selection for the Blackstars in their upcoming Afcon qualifier against the Falcons of Jedaine of Sudan on Thursday 13th November, 2020 at the Cape Coast sports stadium.

Partey joined the English club on a transfer deadline day for £45million deal and so far made an impressive four appearance.

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Kumasi Asanke Kotokoe have been paired against Nouadhibou in the 2020/21 Caf Champions League preliminary round.

The porcupine warriors were selected by the Ghana football Association to represent Ghana due to the covid 19 that ravaged the Ghana premier league.

Their Mauritania counterpart Nouadhibou is set to cost an upset against the Porcupine Warriors in that crunchy encounter. The eight time winners of the Mauritius league were axed from the early stages of the competition the last time they participated.

The first leg is set to be played in Mauritania later November and the winner meets either Vipers or El Hilal of Sudan.

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Continental club masters glorious Accra Hearts of Oak have named former club legend Hesse Idamtten as the assistant coach.

Odamtten is a former player of the Accra base side. He was a pillar in defence during his time. He has now acquired CAF license A certificate.

Head coach Edward Nii Odoom since assuming office has been without an assistant coach following the termination of former coach Kim Grant. The Ghana premier league is facing a suspension due to the conorovirus outbreak.

It an opportunity for the phobians to augment their technical bench ahead of the restart of the league.

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The Ghana senior national team Blackstars head coach Charles Kwabla Akunor has heaped praises on Jordan Ayew for winning Crystal Palace player of the season.

Jordan joined palace on a 10 million fee with a lot of uncertainties surrounding his performance. Since joining has proved critics wrong by putting up a Sterling showcase. In the 2019/20 has netted 9 times becoming all time Ghanaian goalscorer in the EPL with 25 goals one ahead of former Leeds striker Tony Yeboah. The 28 year old was also the third most tackled striker in the just ended 2019/20 season. Ayew goal against westham was also a adjudge best goal of the season.

With his impeccable run has caught the eye of Blackstar head coach C. K Akunor who has rain praises on him. “For me he is in good form and has improved and am only proud of him. I recently contacted him and encouraged him to keep his cool. His performance is a good omen for the national team”.
Akunor also emphasized on how he has contacted other key players of the senior national team.

C.K was appointed the Head coach of the Blackstars of Ghana recently succeeding James Akwasi Appiah.

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Former Accra Hearts of Oak striker Prince Tagoe has eulogized the late Sir Cecil Jones Attuquaye Fio for his visionary leadership.

Prince of goals as affectionately called in the football circles was the top scorer of the Ghana premier league with 18 goals in the year 200’s. His impressive form handed him a call up in the senior national team the Black stars of Ghana in 2010 and was part of that squad that made history in South Africa 2010 world cup reaching the quarters.

The 33 year made this comments on sports link, citing the former Hearts of Oak boss as someone who can see beyond and very pragmatic. Tagoe was part of Jones team that conquered Africa beating bitter rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko to clinch the Confederation cup in 2004 after a dramatic two legged encounter. I recounted after the first game which ended one all, the team was very down because it was our home game at Accra sports stadium and we thought we could have won. Attuquaye Fio before the second leg in Kumasi met the team asked us to compare ourselves with the kotoko players. Yes we were ahead in terms of player quality. We entered that game and eventually were victorious, he said.

Jones was the first coach to qualify Benin to their first ever African cup of nations. After his successful stint with Accra Hearts of Oak, winning a lot laurels. He also represented Ghana in many occasions with the likes of the Black starlet and the Black stars.

He died out of cancer 5 years ago at age 71.