Blow for Ghana as Ayews & Partey omitted from squad

Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew of Ghana

Friday Mar 19, 2021. 15:00

Ghanaian superstars Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew have been left out of the Black Stars’ squad for the upcoming 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Black Stars are set to face off with South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in their last two matches in their qualifying group (Group C).

Ayew brothers Jordan (Crystal Palace) and Andre (Swansea City) and Partey (Arsenal) have been left out of the 29-man squad over the reluctance of their clubs to release them.

This is because Ghana will travel to South Africa, a country that is on the United Kingdom’s red list of coronavirus risky countries.

The Black Stars are scheduled to face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg on March 25, before hosting Sao Tome in Accra three days later.

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori is expected to captain the Black Stars with Andre Ayew and Partey missing.

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates – South Africa), Razak Abalora (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), Eric Ofori Antwi (Medeama SC – Ghana), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko- Ghana)

Defenders

Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK – Greece), Gideon Mensah (Vitória de Guimarães – Portugal), Benson Annan (MLK Zilina – Slovakia), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC – Ghana), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens SC – France), Kasim Nuhu (1899 Hoffenheim – Germany), Ganiyu Ismael (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), Stephen Ambrosius (Hamburger SV – Germany)

Midfielders

Kudus Mohammed (Ajax Amsterdam – Holland), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning F.C – China), Afriyie Acquah (Yeni Malatyaspor – Turkey), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens SC – France), Iddrisu Baba (RCD Mallorca – Spain), Gladson Awako (Great Olympics -Ghana), Kwame Afriyie Poku (Colchester United – England) Osman Bukari (Gent – Belgium), Joseph Esso (Dreams FC- Ghana), Kamal Sowah (OH Leuven- Belgium), Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC – Ghana)

Forwards

Emmanuel Boateng (Dalian Professional- China), Emmanuel Gyasi (Spezia – Italy), Kwame Opoku (Asante Kotoko – Ghana), John Antwi (Pyramids FC – Egypt), Kwasi Okyere Wriedt (Willem II – Holland), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor – Turkey)