Annan makes Champs League debut

Schalke midfielder Anthony Annan boosted his slim chances of making Ghana’s World Cup squad after making his debut for Schalke in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday night.

Annan was a second-half substitute in their 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid which ended their hopes of playing any further part in the competition.


Annan, who had not played for the Royal Blues since the start of the season, had his chance as he came off the bench in the 81st minute to replace Turkish midfielder Kaan Ayhan.


Compatriot Kevin-Prince Boateng was dropped to the Royal Blues’ bench and did not play any part in the game as the Spanish giants sealed their progress thrashing the Germans on 9-2 aggregate.

Schalke went into the game with virtually no hope of progressing after taking a 6-1 battering from the Spanish masters from the first-leg tie at the Veltins Arena, and manager Jens Keller decided to leave Boateng on the bench while he handed debut appearances to his fringe players in the competition.


But the former Hearts of Oak midfielder’s entry could not help the Germans alter the fate of the game as Cristiano Ronaldo hit a double to add to an Alvaro Morata late strike.


After getting his first playing minutes of the season, the 2010 Ghana World Cup star will be hoping for regular appearances for Schalke in the Bundesliga. This could help him force his way into the Black Stars squad for the World Cup in Brazil in June.