Black Stars head coach C.K Akonnor has assured that he will give every hardworking player in the Ghana Premier League a chance in the senior national team.

Responding to questions from pressmen during the announcement of his first Black Stars squad for the 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Sudan, Akonnor said there were players who didn't make the squad because they were unwell.

Speaking specifically about why Kotoko's Justice Blay didn't get a look in in his maiden call-up, Akonnor said " for justice Blay he didn't make the squad because he was sick at the time and he only recently got back. I can assure that in the future he will get a chance. His time will come"

This is the first time that a coach has had to publicly defend the reason he chose the players he has selected for a particular game.

This is a new initiative by the Ghana Football Association to ensure transparency in the selection of players into the national team.

Here's the list of 23 players who made the squad.

GOALKEEPERS

Richard Ofori - Maritzburg United
Razak Abalora - Azam FC
Richard Attah- Hearts of Oak

CENTREBACKS
Nicholas Opoku - Amien SC
Joseph Aidoo- Celta Vigo
Kasim Nuhu - Fortuna Disseldorf
Habib Mohammed - Asante Kotoko

WINGS/ LR
Christopher Antwi Adjei - Paderbon
Tarique Fosu - Bredford FC
Samuel Owusu - Al Fayha FC
Andre Ayew - Swansea City FC



RB/LB
Kwadwo Amoako - Ashgold
Andy Yiadom- Reading
Gideon Mensah - Zulte Waregem

MIDFIELDERS
Mubarak Wakaso- Jiangsu Suning
Alfred Duncan- Florentia
Iddrisu Baba - Real Mallorca
Thomas Teye Partey- Atletico Madrid
Mohammed Kudus- Nordsjaelland

FORWARDS
Jordan Ayew- Crystal Palace
Richmond Boakye Yiadom- Red Star Belgrade
Eugene Ansah- Hapoel Ra’anana
Yahaya Mohammed- Aduana Stars