Lawrence Ati-Zigi invited for Ghana’s World Cup qualifiers

Sochaux goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi has been handed a deserved call-up by Ghana for the crucial World Cup qualifiers later this month.

Ghana will play a double-header against Congo Brazzaville in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with the first leg in Kumasi before a reverse at the Kintele stadium.

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah is planning to name a strong side that will take on Congo at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the first day of September and has handed a call-up to the young glovesman.

Ati-Zigi, who was in superb shape at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup, has impressed the Ghana boss who has decided to include him in his squad for the game.

The 20-year-old recently switched to Ligue 2 side Sochaux from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg and is aiming to strangle the No. 1 spot from French keeper Maxence Andre Prevot.

Ghana’s option in goalkeeping has diminished and the 57-year-old former Ghana international is seeking to solve the problem permanently.

Norway-based Adam Larsen Kwarasey is unlikely to turn up for the game as he is rumoured to have unresolved issues with Kwesi Appiah and some members of the team include Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie Daara.

Richard Ofori, who was in between the sticks during Ghana’s 5-0 trouncing of Ethiopia, has also switched to South African side Maritzburg United and has been warming the bench.

Razak Brimah, who was in post during the 2017 AFCON, is not expected to make a return to the team anytime soon after openly insulting his Ghanaian critics during the tournament.

Ati-Zigi trained with the Ghana team in the bid-up to the 2017 AFCON but was left out of the preliminary squad by Avram Grant who was then in charge of the four-time African champions.

Ghana will play Congo twice within a space of five days as they will travel to Brazzaville for the reverse fixture on September 5.