Soccer News of Monday, 26 May 2008

Source: GFA

Ghana names 23-man roster

There are few surprises as the technical team of the Black Stars name a provisional 23-man Ghana squad for the joint 2010 World Cup/African Nations qualifiers which begins in June.

Players of the team would gather at the headquarters of the Ghana Football Association in Accra on Tuesday before they emplane for Kumasi, the match venue at 10:00am.

The team would have their first training session later in the afternoon on Tuesday as Ghana prepares for the weekend’s qualifying game against Libya, an FA release said.

Emmanuel Banahene of Heart of Lions is the only uncapped senior team player in the squad announced on Monday.

The list also includes four other local players who have all been capped with the senior team.

Also handed call ups are Matthew Amoah and Kofi Amponsah, as both players return to the squad.

Amponsah makes it for the fist time since November 2007 when he played for the Black Stars in a four-nation tournament while Amoah was part of Ghana’s provisional squad announced prior to the 2008 African Nations Cup.

Ghana plays Libya on June 1 at the Baba Yara Stadium in the first game of the joint 2010 World Cup and African Nations qualifying campaign.

Provisional team :

Goalkeepers:

Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England) George Owu (Al Masry Club, Egypt) and William Amamoo (Vasalund, Sweden)

Defenders:

John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana) Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht, Holland), Kofi Amponsah (Appollon Kalamarias, Greece) Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) John Mensah (Rennes, France), David Addy (Wa All Stars, Ghana)

Midfielders:

Anthony Annan (Stabaek, Norway), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Prince Buaben (Dundee Utd, Scotland) Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England)

Strikers:

Eric Bekoe (Asante Kotoko, Ghana) Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Berekum Arsenal, Ghana), Emmanuel Banahene (Heart of Lions, Ghana) Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain) Matthew Amoah (Vittesse Arnhem, Holland)