Justice Blay will get a chance in the Black Stars - Akonnor

Black Stars head coach C.K Akonnor has assured that he will give every hardworking player in the Ghana Premier League a chance in the senior national team.

Responding to questions from pressmen during the announcement of his first Black Stars squad for the 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Sudan, Akonnor said there were players who didn't make the squad because they were unwell.

Speaking specifically about why Kotoko's Justice Blay didn't get a look in in his maiden call-up, Akonnor said " for justice Blay he didn't make the squad because he was sick at the time and he only recently got back. I can assure that in the future he will get a chance. His time will come"

This is the first time that a coach has had to publicly defend the reason he chose the players he has selected for a particular game.

This is a new initiative by the Ghana Football Association to ensure transparency in the selection of players into the national team.

Here's the list of 23 players who made the squad.

GOALKEEPERS

Richard Ofori - Maritzburg United

Razak Abalora - Azam FC

Richard Attah- Hearts of Oak

CENTREBACKS

Nicholas Opoku - Amien SC

Joseph Aidoo- Celta Vigo

Kasim Nuhu - Fortuna Disseldorf

Habib Mohammed - Asante Kotoko

WINGS/ LR

Christopher Antwi Adjei - Paderbon

Tarique Fosu - Bredford FC

Samuel Owusu - Al Fayha FC

Andre Ayew - Swansea City FC



RB/LB

Kwadwo Amoako - Ashgold

Andy Yiadom- Reading

Gideon Mensah - Zulte Waregem

MIDFIELDERS

Mubarak Wakaso- Jiangsu Suning

Alfred Duncan- Florentia

Iddrisu Baba - Real Mallorca

Thomas Teye Partey- Atletico Madrid

Mohammed Kudus- Nordsjaelland

FORWARDS

Jordan Ayew- Crystal Palace

Richmond Boakye Yiadom- Red Star Belgrade

Eugene Ansah- Hapoel Ra’anana

Yahaya Mohammed- Aduana Stars