•Only 3 local-based players feature in the 24 strong man squad to play Harambee Stars in the last 2019 Afcon qualifier
•The team is dominated by European based stars led by the Ayew brothers - Jordan and Andre
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has released a 24 strong man squad that will play Harambee Stars in the final qualification match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations group “F” match on March 23 in Accra. Only three local based players have made the cut alongside 21 foreign-based stars. The trio who play for Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko are goalkeeper Felix Annan, defender Amos Frimpong and midfielder Kwame Bonsu.
The team is dominated by European based stars led by the Ayew brothers, Jordan of English side Crystal Palace and Andre of Turkish top flight side Fenerbahçe. The duo missed the first leg in Nairobi, but featured in their 2-0 victory over bottom side Ethiopia in Addis with Jordan grabbing a brace. Experienced Inter Milan defender Kwadwo Asamoah is also in the team, while Ghana all time top scorer Asamoah Gyan misses out.
Harambee Stars beat Ghana 1-0 in first leg fixture courtesy of Nicholas Opoku own goal in September 2018. The victory saw Stars break a 15-year jinx against the fancied Black Stars to lead pool F. Disappointed Atletico Madrid midfielder Tomas Partey has warned Kenya of a tough return leg, promising they’ll teach Stars football lessons. The four time African champions humiliated Harambee Stars 13-2 at home in December 11,1965 during Kenya's first ever Jamhuri Day celebrations.
The match will be played at the 40,000 capacity seater Ohene Gjan Sports Stadium in Accra at 9pm. Kenya tops the group on seven points, one better than the West Africans. Despite both sides having already qualified for the 24-team event in Egypt set for June 21, Ghana will be out to avenge the Nairobi loss. A draw or win will see Kenya maintain the top spot while a loss will see the hosts top group F. Meanwhile, Stars are already in Accra ahead of the battle.
Ghana's Full squad
Goalkeepers Richard Ofori (Martizburg, South Africa), Lawrence Ati (Sochaux, France), Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko, Ghana); Defenders Kwadwo Asamoah (Inter Milan, Italy) Lumor Agbenyenu ( Göztepe S.K, Turkey) Andy Yiadom (Reading Football Club, England) Amos Frimpong (Asante Kotoko, Ghana) Nuhu Kassim (1899 Hoffenheim, Germany) Nicholas Opoku (Udinese, Italy) John Boye (Metz,France) Joseph Aidoo (Genk, Belgium);
Midfielders Andre Ayew ( Fenerbahçe S.K, Turkey) Mubarak Wakaso (Alaves, Spain) Christian Atsu (Newcastle, England) Kwame Bonsu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Ernest Asante ( Al Jazira, UAE), Thomas Partey (Atlético Madrid), Alhassan Wakaso ( Vitoria S.C, Portugal), Jeffery Schlupp ( Crystal Palace, England), Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo, Italy) Strikers Caleb Ansah Ekuban (Trabzonspor, Turkey) Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) Emmanuel Boateng (Dalian Yifang, China) Kwasi Appiah (AFC Wimbledon, UK)