Mohamed Kudus included in the Ghana final squad for AFCON 2021
The Ghana final squad list released by the Ghanaian coach, Milovan Rajevac, is quite surprising as the 18-year old Roma striker Felix Afena-Gyan, and Clermont’s Salis Abdul Samed did not make the cut. The squad, however, includes the Ajax star, Mohamed Kudus.
Felix Afena-Gyan and Salis Abdul Samed are the two players dropped from the 30-man provisional squad.
The Roma starlet was a surprise inclusion in the 30-man provisional squad, who many have thought, would make the Ghana Afcon squad. However, that will not be the case.
The reason he was dropped has nothing to do with his abilities or performance. He requested his removal from the squad because he sees the recent rise in his career as a time for building his career, Afcon can wait.
He made his senior team debut for Roma this season, and he has scored two goals in five appearances.
However, future star Ghana-based, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, and Kamaldeen Sulemana, Stade Rennias are included in the squad.
If Samed had made the squad, he would be making his first appearance at the Africa cup of Nations, but due to Clermont’s refusal to release the player, he will wait for another two years to get a chance at the continental championship. The France club feels reluctant to release the midfielder for the Africa showpiece because of fitness fears.
However, the Ajax attacker Mohamed Kudus would be looking forward to a great outing at Cameroon after making the squad. The squad likewise includes EPL stars- Thomas Partey, Arsenal, Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew, and Leicester city’s Daniel Amartey.
The Black Stars Captain, Andre Ayew, will also feature in the tournament. He joined Al Sadd this season and has scored nine goals in 11 appearances for the Qatar outfit.
Ghana has not won the Afcon title since 1982. They are in the same group with Morocco, Comoros, and Gabon in Group C. they will kick off their quest to win the title for the fifth time against Morocco on January 10.
Ghana full AFCON 2021 squad
Goalkeepers: Joseph Wolacott (Swindon Town), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Gallen)
Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), Gideon Mensah (Girondins Bordeaux), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg FC), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew), Khalid Abdul Mumin (Vitoria de Guimaraes)
Midfielders: Baba Iddrissu (Real Mallorca), Edmund Addo (Sherif Tiraspol), Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal FC), Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen FC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Daniel Kofi Kyere (St. Pauli), David Abagna (Real Tamale United)
Forwards: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Dreams FC), Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha), Kamal Deen Suleymana (Rennes FC), Dede Ayew (Al Sadd SC), Joseph Paintsil (Genk) Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem), Maxwell Abbey Quaye (Great Olympics), Benjamin Tetteh (Malatyaspor)
