Ghana names squad for African U-20 Championship
Ghana’s Black Satellites have named the final 21-man squad for the African Youth Championship scheduled for South Africa from 17 April – 1 May, 2011.
Coach Orlando Wellington unveiled his squad last Tuesday in Naivasha, Kenya, where the team is currently under-going a training camp.
Swedish-based striker Kwame Amponsah-Karikari was a surprise inclusion in the final squad, according to the Ghana Football Association website culled by GNA Sports.
Amponsah-Karikari, who plays for AIK was among eight foreign-based players named alongside top scorer of the qualifying round, Richmond Boakye Yiadom.
Striker Jordan Ayew was left out after French club Olympique Marseille blocked his release for the tournament, whilst France-based Kevin Osei was dropped for issues relating to his passport.
Others also left out are Italian-duo Afriyie Acquah and Daniel Agyei of Palermo and Fiorentina.
The Black Satellites, the reigning champions are housed in Group B alongside Cameroon, Nigeria and Gambia.
The Black Satellites open their campaign against Nigeria on April 18 and then play against Gambia three days later before wrapping their campaign against Cameroon on April 24.
The semi-finalists of the championship will represent the continent at the FIFA U-20 World Cup scheduled for 29 July – 20 August, 2011 in Colombia.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Adade Foli (Ebusua Dwarfs), Akwasi Acheampong (Liberty
Professionals), Ibrahim Alhassan (Madina United)
Defenders: Rashid Sumaila (Ebusua Dwarfs), Adnan Saeed (Wa All Stars),
Karim Alhassan (Hearts of Oak), Paul Aidoo (Berekum Chelsea), Richmond
Nketiah (Nania FC), Samuel Kyere (Berekum Chelsea), Masawudu Alhassan
(Genoa, Italy)
Midfielders: Albert Bruce (Asante Kotoko), Seidu Shaibu (Wa All
Stars), Bright Addae (Terrassa FC, Spain), James Bissue (Hapoel Be’er
Sheva, Israel), Enoch Ebo Andoh (Benfica, Portugal), Gershon Koffie
(Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada), Ebenezer Otu (Berekum Chelsea)
Attackers: Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Genoa, Italy) Kwame
Amponsah-Karikari (AIK Fotboll, Sweden), Mahatma Otoo (Hearts of Oak),
Kwame Nsor (Metz, France).
Source: GNA