Saturday, October 7
Uganda (The Cranes) vs Ghana (Black Stars)
Ghana National Football team coach Appiah Kwesi has left out arguably his two best players from the 26-man squad that will face Uganda Cranes in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
The exclusion of the premier league duo leaves Asamoah Gyan (Kayserispor) with a huge burden of guiding the Black Stars past Uganda.
He will however look to the assistance of fellow experienced players in Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid), Christian Atsu (Newcastle) and Daniel Armartey (Leicester)
Ahead of this penultimate encounter, Appiah recalled Daniel Opare a 30-year-old defender who last appeared on the National Team 3 years ago in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
He has recently found his form with Germany outfits Augsburg.
Ghana is third in Group E with 5 points and Uganda Cranes are second on the top with 7 points from 4 games, 2 below leaders Egypt.
The last time both sides faced off in this group, Uganda picked a vital point with a goalless draw in Tamale Sports Stadium in Ghana.
Dad vs Coach Rivalry:
The decision to drop the star-attraction Ayew brothers comes amidst the ongoing rivalry between Ghana Coach Kwesi Appiah and Abedi Pele (Father of the Ayew brothers).
Abedi Pele is considered to be the greatest African footballer ever, a title he rivals with Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria), George Weah (Liberia) and the Cameroonian duo of Samuel Eto’o and Roger Milla.
Pele is a 3-time African Footballer of the year, and is a 1993 Champions League winner with Marseille.
It should be noted that both Pele and Kwesi were the two stronger pillars of the Star-studded 1992 Ghana squad which flopped and failed to yield results.
The Captain armband was removed from Kwesi and handed to Pele during the 1992 African Cup of Nations in Senegal because of Pele was able to speak French.
The rift started then, and many believe that Appiah is victimizing the Ayew brothers.
The Ayew Brothers
Many believe that these brothers are also not in good talking terms with Coach Appiah, and it’s believed that they faked their injuries when they missed out on Ghana’s 1-5 victorious trips in Congo recently.
Andrew Dede Ayew is the elder brother, an attacker who plays for West ham United and has scored 14 goals out of 75 National team appearances.
Jordan Ayew is a Swansea City forward; the young lad has 12 goals in National colours from 46 games.
Notable and surprise inclusion in the Squad
Appiah went for a wild card when he handed debut call ups to Abbas Mohamed who plays for Harrisburg City Islanders in USA, Kassim Nuhu of Young Boys in Switzerland, Swedish based player Kingsley Sarfo (Malmo) and local pair of Isaac Twum and Vincent Atingha.
Full list of Ghana’s Summoned Squad
These 26 players will further be trimmed to a list of only 23 players before they visit Uganda’s fortress in Namboole.
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Martizburg South Africa), Lawrence Ati (Sochaux, France), Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus,USA), Daniel Opare (Augsburg, Germany) Agbenyenu Lumor (Portimonese, Portugal), Abass Mohammed (Harrisburg City, USA), Kasim Nuhu (Young Boys, Switzerland), Daniel Amartey (Leicester,England), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew,USA), Nicholas Opoku (Club Africain, Tunisia), Vincent Atinga (Hearts of Oak).
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Joseph Attamah (Bakaksehir, Turkey), Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, England), Kingsley Sarfo (Malmo, Sweden) Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo FC, Italy), Ebenezer Ofori (Stuttgart, Germany), Thomas Agyepong (NAC Breda, Holland), Frank Acheampong (Tianjin TEDA, China), Isaac Twum (Inter Allies), Patrick Twumasi (Astana FC, Kazakhtan)
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Kayerispor, Turkey), Raphael Dwamena (FC Zurich, Switzerland), John Antwi (Misr Lel-Makkasa, Egypt), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Crvena Zvezda, Serbia).