March 22, (THEWILL) – Ghana has officially announced the 27 players who will compete in the two-legged World Cup play-offs against Nigeria’s Super Eagles on March 25 and 29.
The list was revealed following conflicting reactions to the delay, with some Ghanaians thinking it was part of their strategy to keep the Super Eagles’ technical team in the dark in order to surprise them on matchday.
The list’s release has put that assumption to rest. However, in today’s world of interconnectedness via the internet, there was not much to the secrecy as, apart from the local players, Ghanaian stars around the globe, especially those in Europe, are already known to the Nigerian technical crew.
Black stars’ team captain Andre Ayew, who is serving a suspension he earned at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), was a high-profile exclusion on the list. THEWILL recalls that he was sent off in Ghana’s final group game, which they lost to debutants Comoros.
Jordan Ayew, his brother and Crystal Palace forward, is also in the team, despite having tested positive for COVID-19. According to a statement on the Ghana Football Association’s website: “Coach Otto Addo has named a 27-man squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play offs against Nigeria.
“The Back Stars will take on the Super Eagles in two matches scheduled for Kumasi and Abuja respectively as the search for a ticket to November’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar heats up.
“Ghana will host the 1st leg at the Baba Yara Sports stadium on Friday, March 25 before travelling to Abuja for the 2nd leg on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.”
The full squad sheet includes:
Goalkeepers
Joseph Wolacott (Swindon Town – England)
Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (KAS Eupen – Belgium)
Lawrence Ati Zigi (St Gallen – Switzerland)
Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates – South Africa)
Defenders
Denis Odoi (FC Brugge – Belgium)
Andy Yiadom (Reading FC – England)
Gideon Mensah (Bordeaux – France)
Dennis Korsah (Hearts of Oak – Ghana)
Montari Kamaheni (Ashdod FC – Israel)
Daniel Amartey (Leicester City – England)
Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo – Spain)
Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg – France)
Abdul Mumin (Vitoria Guimaraes – Portugal)
Midfielders
Iddrisu Baba (RCD Mallorca – Spain)
Edmund Addo (FC Sherif – Moldova)
Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam – Holland)
Elisha Owusu (KAA Gent – Belgium)
Thomas Partey (Arsenal – England)
Daniel Kofi Kyereh (FC St. Pauli – Germany)
Wingers
Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting CP – Portugal) Osman Bukari (FC Nantes – France)
Joseph Paintsil (KRC Gent – Belgium)
Yaw Yeboah, Columbus Crew – USA)
Strikers
Felix Afena Gyan (AS Roma – Italy)
Christopher Antwi Adjei (VFL Bochum – Germany)
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace – England)
Kwasi Wriedt (Holstein Kiel – Germany)
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
