Ghana Team to face Zambia: Muntari out, Dede, Kevin in?

Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah is reported to have included AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and Andre Ayew in his squad to face Zambia next month in the crucial World Cup group qualifier in Kumasi, but there is no place in the team for Sulley Ali Muntari and Jordan Ayew.

 
The Black Stars must avoid a loss against the Chipolopolo on September 6 to win the group and book a place among the countries to engage in a two-leg playoff to decide Africa’s five representatives for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Even though Coach Appiah is expected to officially announce his squad tomorrow, inside sources within the Ghana Football Association have hinted that Muntari was left out of the team to face the 2012 African champions and an international friendly with Japan in Tokyo three days later.

Muntari last Thursday sent a terse letter to the GFA to apologise for an unruly behaviour he exhibited towards the Black Stars coach in the presence of his team-mates after Ghana’s World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in Maseru last June.

Similarly, both Andre and Jordan Ayew last Friday officially revoked their temporary retirement from the national team to make themselves available for selection in future matches.

But the younger of the Olympique Marseille duo was overlooked for his elder brother Andre, who has been linked with a move to English Premiership side Newcastle United.

The older Ayew, noted for his high workrate and commitment in national team matches, appears upbeat about his comeback after pledging on his Twitter page that he was ready to “die” for his country once again.
Last Saturday, Andre tweeted, ”I am back for my country! I thank every Ghanaian for supporting me during this few months. I am ready to die for Ghana as always!”

Football website footy-ghana.com also published a 26-man squad which it claimed represented Appiah’s squad for the Zambia-Japan double header.

The list included young Russia-based striker, Abdul Majeed Waris, and Dinamo Zagreb defender, Lee Addy, both of whom have been missing in recent Black Stars matches.

The squad:
Galkeepers: Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Razak Braimah (CD Guadalajara, Spain)
Defenders: Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Baba Rahman (Greuther Furth, Germany), Jonathan Mensah (Evian TG, France), John Boye (Rennes, France), Lee Addy (Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia), Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Awal Mohammed (Maritzburg United, South Africa)
Midfielders: Christian Atsu (Porto, Portugal), Solomon Asante (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar, Russia), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Italy), Mubarak Wakaso (Espanyol, Spain), Yussif Rahman Chibsah (Sassuolo, Italy), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Andre Ayew (Marseille, France), Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan, Italy)
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE), Mahatma Otoo (Sogndal, Norway), Abdul Majeed Waris (Spartak Moscow), Dominic Adiyiah (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough, England).