Owusu-Abeyie makes Stars squad for Sudan game

Accra, Sept. 28, GNA - Midfielder Quincy Owusu-Abeyie has been named in the Black Stars 22-man squad for the crucial 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan on October 8.

Stars coach Goran Stevanonic included the Panathinaikos midfielder for the ultimate qualifier after a meteoric rise in his performance in the Greek League this season.

The Dutch-born midfielder has not featured for the Black Stars since the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The biggest casualties are veteran goalie Richard Kingson as well as Olympique Marseille midfielder Andre Dede Ayew, who has been left out of the squad due to concerns over his fitness, just as there is also no place for kid-brother Jordan Ayew.

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that Kingson was left out of the squad due to his unattached status after being released by English side Blackpool.

Captain John Mensah makes a return to the squad with debut call-ups for Asante Kotoko's right-back Yaw Frimpong and Massahudu Alhassan of Italian side, Genoa.

The Stars are expected to enplane for Nairobi, Kenya next week to commence preparations for the decider which Ghana must win to ensure qualification.

The Ghanaian team is tied on 13 points with Sudan and must avoid defeat to qualify automatically as winners of Group I. The squad will depart for London immediately after the match to face Nigeria in an international friendly on October 11.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Adam Larsen Kwarasey (Stromgodest, Norway), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea) Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals)

Defenders: Massawudu Alhassan (FC Genoa, Italy), John Paintsil (Leicester City, England), Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), John Mensah (Olympique Lyon, France), Lee Addy (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Yaw Frimpong (Asante Kotoko)

Midfielders: Samuel Inkoom (FC Dnipro, Ukraine), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Sulley Ali Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy), Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Albert Adomah (Bristol City, England), Abu Mohammed (Stromgodest, Norway), Derek Boateng (FC Dnipro, Ukraine) Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Panathinaikos FC, Greece)

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates), Prince Tagoe (Bursaspor, Turkey) Dominic Adiyiah (Karsiyaka, Turkey)