Soccer News of Thursday, 25 December 2014

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Ghana fail to convince angry Kwarasey to return for 2015 AFCON

Ghana looks to have failed in an attempt to convince angry goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey to return to the Black Stars ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 26-year-old was expected to be named among coach Avram Grant’s squad for next month’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

However, he was not named among the 31 players in the provisional squad revealed by the Israeli coach showing that the shot-stopper’s standoff with the technical team is still unresolved.

The America-based shot-stopper was being courted by previous coach Maxwell Konadu and other officials to assuage him of worries about his stint with the team at the World Cup in June.

Kwarasey turned down the chance to be part of the team for the qualifiers against Uganda and Togo last month following his absence since the tournament in Brazil.

He angrily lashed out at goalkeepers’ trainer Nassam Yakubu, claiming he played a key role in his exclusion from the Ghana starting line up in the match against Germany and Portugal at the World Cup.

Despite rejecting invitation to arrive in Ghana for talks with the officials over his concerns, Konadu engaged him to ensure his return to the side for the Cup of Nations.

It is now certain that no agreement has been reached, and the Black Stars will go to Equatorial Guinea without the newly-signed Portland Timbers goalkeeper.

Konadu has confirmed that Kwarasey declined an invitation to play for the country in the final qualifying games against Uganda and Togo.

The USA-based goalkeeper last played for Ghana when they played the United States in the opening game of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He has since then failed to honour calls from the national team following his fallout with goalkeeper trainer Nassam Yakubu.