Sports News of Wednesday, 11 March 2020

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Ghana coach Akonnor to drop Black Stars players due to coronavirus?

Black Stars coach CK Akonnor Black Stars coach CK Akonnor

Ghana coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor is set to drop some players invited for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations double header against Sudan due to the coronavirus scare.

Most of these foreign-based players invited ply their trade in Europe which is currently hit by the virus with authorities forced to suspend games or played behind closed doors.

According to health officials, travel restrictions and avoiding a large gathering can be ways to prevent the virus from spreading which has led to some African countries calling on the continent’s governing football body, CAF to postpone the AFCON qualifier which comes off later this month.

The worst country hit by the Convid-19 virus is Italy which has suspended it league to April 3, 2020 and the country under lock down.

Other neighboring countries such as Germany, France, Spain have also recorded cases of the Convid-19 virus.

Alfred Duncan who plays for Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A was named in the Black Stars squad for the double header on March 27 and 30 but with Italy taking drastic measures to arrest the deadly virus which has plagued the country, the player may not be able to travel to honour the game.

It is unclear if players invited for the game will be able to move from their base to join the national team later this month for the AFCON qualifier.

Below is the list of players invited for the double header:

Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori(Maritzburg), Razark Abalorah(Azam) Richard Attah(Hearts of Oak)

Defenders: Kwadwo Amoako(AshantiGold), Andy Yiadom(Reading), Gideon Mensah(Waregem) , Nicholas Opoku(Amiens), Joseph Aidoo(Celta Vigo), Kasim Nuhu (Düsseldorf) and Habib Mohammed(Asante Kotoko)

Midfielders: Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu), Alfred Duncan(Fiorentina) , Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid) Kudus Mohammed (Nordsjaelland). Iddrisu Baba(Mallorca) Andre Ayew (Swansea)

Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Richmond Boakye- Yiadom(Crvena zvezda), Eugene Ansah (Hapoel Ra’anna), Yahaya Mohammed (Aduana Stars)