Black Stars NOT Open To New Faces -Nyantakyi

Ghana’s assistant Coach Akwasi Appiah insists the Black Stars team could see the inclusion of new players for next year’s African Cup of Nations.

Appiah’s statement is in direct conflict of the one made by the Ghana FA President Kwasi Nyantakyi who said such new call-ups will no longer be done.

Nyantakyi said last week that only players that have featured so far under Coach Goran Stevanovic will have the chance to play in the Nations Cup.

The statement effectively denies the inclusion of the likes of Harrison Afful, Emmanuel Frimpong, Uriah Asante and the current leading goalscorer of the Glo Premier League Emmanuel Baffour.

However the ex Black Stars captain says, Nyantakyi’s comment was misinterpreted and confirmed other new options are still being monitored for consideration before the final 23-man squad for the tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea is released.

“I think the interpretation was not understood well, what I understand is if he (the coach) has not seen a player in a game situation he may not invite that player which is understandable,” Appiah told Takoradi-based Melody FM.

“Because if you go in such competitions and you have not seen a player play I do not see how you can call that player.

“At the moment there are some other players he has not invited before but he is going to watch them in their clubs and then decide on the final 23.

“So it is not like someone who has never been invited to his squad will not be selected to the final 23, that is not the issue.

“We have discussed some few players but as to those he will be visiting I am not 100% sure, I am not in the position to give out the names until he makes them himself.”

“He May visit a player look at him in his club and if that player fits into his tactics then he may just be joining his team for the Nations Cup.”