Time to repay Kwesi Appiah's confidence in you- Akonnor to new Black Stars players

Former Ghana captain Charles 'CK' Akonnor has urged the new players in Ghana's senior squad to make the most of their selection for the national outfit.

Seven men, including 20-year-old Real Valladolid centre-back Mohammed Salisu, have been summoned for senior national duty for the first time as coach James Kwesi Appiah announced his squad for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe.

Real Mallorca midfielder Iddrisu Mohammed Baba has also been invited, as have German-born winger Christopher Antwi-Adjei and Nordsjaelland midfielder Mohammed Kudus.

“They [new players] should know that if they do well, they would be heard of," Akonnor said as reported by footy-Ghana.

"This time around we have a lot of players both in Ghana and abroad and they should seize this opportunity to give their all in order to repose the confidence the coach had in them before inviting them.

“It is an opportunity for them to come and look at the environment.

"Some of them have never had the opportunity to be in the team before so it’s always good for them to come and test their strength and fight for a place in the team."

Former Hearts of Oak playmaker Torric Gibril, now of Congolese side TP Mazembe, Ashanti Gold striker Mumuni Shafiu, who netted four times at the recent Wafu Cup of Nations in Senegal, and Tanzania-based goalkeeper Razak Abalora, complete the new faces.

Their first match of Afcon 2021 series, Ghana hosts South Africa in Cape Coast on November 14, four days before facing Sao Tome away.