Former Ghana International Augustine Arhinful has described as disappointing the failure of Black Stars coach Avram Grant to invite more locally-based players for Ghana’s final 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda to be played early next month.
The game against Rwanda is important but with Ghana having already qualified for the 2017 AFCON, Arhinful expected the Israeli trainer to invite more players from the Ghana Premier League as a way of motivating them. But instead, Grant named only two players from the local league - Wa All Stars goalie Richard Ofori and Ashantigold’s Kadri Mohammed - in his 23-man squad released last Friday.
This move is what has shocked Arhinful, who, while speaking in an interview with Accra-based Starr FM, said “the local league possesses great talents that need to be given the opportunity to excel. I would have loved if Avram should have added 5 local players to the Black Stars squad for the AFCON qualifier. The likes of Latif Blessing, Shafiu Mumuni, Dauda Mohammed, Cosmos Dauda, Isaac Mensah and Amos Frimpong, among others, are all local players with exceptional quality which need to be nurtured.”
In a related development, goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey returns to the squad while skipper Asamoah Gyan is expected to lead the team that will take on the Amavubi.
The Black Stars have already qualified for next year's tournament having amassed 13 points so far from five games played.
The Rwandans are in second place with six points.
Ghana is currently in talks for a friendly game which will be played days after next month’s qualifying game.
Below is the full 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Cordoba, Spain), Adam Kwarasey (Rosenborg, Norway) Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England), Jeffery Schlupp (Leicester City, England), Baba Rahman (Schalke, Germany), John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey), Jonathan Mensah (Anzhi, Russia), Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Kadri Mohammed (AshantiGold)
Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain) Samuel Tetteh (Leifering, Austria), Mubarak Wakaso (Panathinaikos, Greece), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo, Italy), Christian Atsu (Chelsea, England),
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Shanghai SIPG, China), Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa, England), Ebenezer Assifuah (Sion, Switzerland), David Accam (Chicago Fire, USA).
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