New Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has decided to get his reign started with a squad of 25 players as Ghana resumes the quest for qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) later this month.
The Black Stars take on Angola in back-to-back Group E games with the Palancas Negras playing guests in the first leg at Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on March 23, 2023. The second leg follows four days later in Luanda.
In his maiden squad, Hughton retained 19 members of the Ghana team that participated in the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
In-form Joseph Paintsil is among six players making a return after missing out on the Mundial. The others include back-from-injury goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott, Majeed Ashimeru, Edmund Addo, Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer and Patrick Kpozo who was only listed in the preliminary World Cup squad.
After two games in the qualifiers for the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Afcon tournament, both Ghana and Angola are tied on 4 points. The Black Stars, however, top Group E with superior goals after two games.
Invited players
Goalkeepers (3):
Lawrence Ati Zigi (FC St. Gallen), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Joseph Wollacott (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders (8):
Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Patrick Kpozo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton FC), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg)
Midfielders (4):
Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Majeed Ashimeru (RSC Anderlecht), Abdul Salis Samed (Lens), Edmund Addo (Spartak Subotica)
Wingers (5):
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Joseph Painstil (Genk), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton FC), Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer (Hamburger SV)
Forwards (5):
Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Andre Ayew (Nottingham Forest), Kamal Sowah (Club Brugge), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth)
