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England-based striker Kwesi Appiah and Norway-based attacker Mahatma Otoo have gatecrashed Ghana's final 23-man squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations while experienced defender Samuel Inkoom has been dropped from the travelling party, the Ghana FA has announced.

Injuries look to have robbed new coach Avram Grant of the chance of naming his strongest squad for the competition with playmaker Kwadwo Asamoah, Abdul Majeed Waris and Jeffrey Schlupp all nursing injuries.

This left the Ghana coaching with no option but to call Otoo from his Norwegian team Songdal's training camp as he was not part of the 26-man squad that travelled with the Black Stars to Spain.

Ruthless ex-Chelsea coach Avram Grant also axed South Africa-based defender Kwabena Adusei and midfielder Ibrahim Moro from the squad for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

The squad, which is dominated by foreign-based players, sees several players named for their maiden appearances in African football's flagship event.

The Israeli manager named ten players in the squad who will be making their maiden appearances in Africa's flagship football event which kicks off in 17 January.

Youngsters Baba Rahman, Daniel Amartey, Frank Acheampong David Accam and Kwesi Appiah will all be making their first appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Goalkeeper Fatau Dauda is the only home-based player in the squad which will be fighting the for title.

Last-minute injury to striker Abdul-Majeed Waris means Norway-based attacker Mahatma Otoo has been given a late call-up to join the squad.

England-based defender Jeffrey Schlupp was also excluded from the squad because of an injury that will rule him out of action for about three weeks.

Defender Samuel Inkoom, midfielder Ibrahim Moro and Kwabena Adusei, who were part of the provisional squad were all left out of the final 23-man squad.

The Black Stars will be led at the tournament by captain Asamoah Gyan who joins Andre Ayew, Jonathan Mensah, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Mubarak Wakaso will provide the needed experience for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.

Appiah looks to have profited from the good form he has shown since joining the Black Stars in the pre-tournament camping which saw him scoring in his debut game for Ghana.

Ghana have been placed in a tough group at the Africa Cup of Nations as they will face Senegal, Algeria and South Africa.

 

Ghana squad

Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Mirandes, Spain), Fatau Dauda (AshGold) and Ernest Sowah (Don Bosco, DR Congo)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), John Boye (Erciyesspor, Turkey), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France), Awal Mohammed (Maritzburg, South Africa), Baba Rahman (Augsburg, Germany), Gyimah Edwin (Mpumalanga Black Aces, South Africa), Daniel Amartey, (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)

Midfielders: Rabiu Mohammed (Krasnodar, Russia), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Afriyie Acquah (Parma, Italy), Solomon Asante (T.P. Mazembe, DR Congo), Christian Atsu (Everton, England), Mubarak Wakaso (Celtic, Scotland), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), David Accam (Chicago Fire, USA)

Strikers: Jordan Ayew (Lorient, France), Mahatma Otoo (Songdal, Norway) Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE), Kwesi Appiah (Cambridge United, England).

What do you make of Ghana's final squad for the AFCON? Do you think Appiah should have been named? What about Mahatma? Do you think dropping Inkoom is fair? Do you think this squad can win the AFCON? Make your views known in the box below:

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Comments

This article has 24 comment(s) , give your comment

Readers Comment

  • lion-fire 9 years ago

    i see a bit of imbalance here. there are only two full backs in defence. baba and afful. Ni back ups for them

  • NONI(9JA 1ST SON) 9 years ago

    All am hoping and praying for is that GHANA's 38yrs AFCON drought ends this year...........

  • Dr Who 9 years ago

    Frank Acheampong mostly plays as a left full back for Anderlect and Coach Grant used him there in the first half of our friendly so no worries for full back substitutes.

  • inzaghi 9 years ago

    thanks coach for naming mahatma osumanu otoo among the team

  • Mumbi 9 years ago

    How can u name Kwesi Appiah yet you overlook Peggy Appiah? She can also add value to the team, even in form of sexual services to the whole team.

  • Poleecy 9 years ago

    Yes this is what I ask for thank God Kwesi Appiah is in the squad

  • Papa Nkrumah 9 years ago

    On the basis of relevance or significance, it makes sense that inkoom did not make the cut. We have options to replace him. Kwesi Appiah's call up together with Mahatma means that Jordan will be challenged to work hard as partner to Gyan. Lets keep our fingers crossed although I feel many radio sports journalists will raise hell over the dropping of Inkoom due to his past contribution to the Black stars and how kind he is to media folks. But lets all support the coach as he seeks to "do well" by at least making the semi final stage.

  • Justice Jay 9 years ago

    All the glory be to God for He has done it.Let's hope and see what will come out of this squad.Believe you me,with God in the boat,we'll laugh at the storm.

  • Hassan Harun 9 years ago

    We all know that Ghana is a football Nation, even if you call second divition boyz they can play. Because we trust our nation players.so we only need the cup, we don't care about naming your squad. Since 82 please

  • kimco 9 years ago

    ei ghanafuo nunu....im not saying yhe squad is bad but pls somebody tell me why there is so much praise for grant for naming this squad...i want tactical analysis for each reason if im not asking too much. also gsn is trully a grave yard...atlrast zamfoot have over 50 responses for their final squad reportage....we are too dull.

  • Gawucho 9 years ago

    Very fantastic...mahatma Otooooooooo

  • Roy 9 years ago

    I salute u grant for ur squad,i told u all that dis kwesi appiah boy is making the team though am not a fun of hm,is good inkoom is out with ibrahim moro,yes i love somebody like otoo too in the team,but edusie shld ve remain in the team since we dnt ve too many defenders but all the same it is a good team.

  • Gawucho 9 years ago

    Very superb squad......mahatma Otoooooooooooo goooooooal.

  • Obed 9 years ago

    I'm elated that Mahatma Otoo is included.

  • wyper 9 years ago

    Avram Grant is a tactical genius. The guy has foresight. He is seriously sorting your mess- Kwesi Appiah's BIG MESs!! Here's a coach running out of options yet he makes wise call ups. His 31 man squad confuses you. We talk toooooo much! Just watch the man do his work

  • johnny 9 years ago

    Good squad, for what is available.

  • sterlingz 9 years ago

    this team will shock the world!!!

  • Don 9 years ago

    This is a wining team

  • wee ba 9 years ago

    let's see if grant can resurrect the team akwasi appiah the silent killer silently killed

  • Christopher 9 years ago

    All I can say what has God or spiritiual religion got to do with football. Isn't it all about team performance? If Ghana lose there first match than bow ur head with shame & keep shut. Just support & hope ur team will win

  • afrikaba1 9 years ago

    ghanasoccernet is now a graveyard because they messes up your comment hen your speak the truth against corrupted GFA. People have been sharing their ideas on ghanaweb now.

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