World Cup Qualifiers: 5 Ghana players to watch against Ethiopia

24 players will make the trip to South Africa for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia, the Ghana FA has announced.

The Black Stars will play away to Ethiopia at the Orlando Stadium on Thursday in a must-win game in the World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana and South Africa are in a race for the top spot with both teams hoping to win their last two games to make the playoffs.

The Black Stars trained on Tuesday morning ahead of the trip to Johannesburg. Ghana is hoping to make a return to the World Cup after missing out in the 2018 edition in Russia. A win over Ethiopia and South Africa will guarantee Ghana a place in the play-offs.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Joseph Wollacott (Swindon Town), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St.Gallen), ManafNurudeen (Eupen), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak)

Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC), Philemon Baffour (Dreams FC), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), MontariKamaheni (Ashdod), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Ismail Abdul Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko)

Midfielders: Baba Idrissu (Real Mallorca), Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen F.C), Edmund Addo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Daniel Kofi Kyere (FC St. Pauli)

Wingers: Andre Ayew (Al Sadd), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Abdul FatawuIssahaku (Dreams FC), Kamal DeenSulemana (Rennes), Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha)

Strikers: Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem), Caleb Ekuban (Genoa)

Meanwhile, Jonathan Mensah (Injured), Thomas Partey (Injured), and Felix Afena Gyan (Unavailable) will not travel with the team to South Africa for the clash against Ethiopia.

With a big game against South Africa to climax the group stage, Ghana will be counting on their star men to step up when they face Ethiopia on the penultimate matchday on Thursday.

DANIEL AMARTEY

The Leicester City man is expected to lead Ghana’s backline from central defence, most likely with support from Strasbourg’s Alex Djiku, and Reading fullbacks Andy Yiadom and Baba Rahman.

THOMAS PARTEY

Uncertainty hangs over the availability of the Arsenal ace for the upcoming double-header, having sat out his club’s 1-0 Premier League win over Watford on Sunday due to a groin problem. Should he be passed fit for the Ghana games, he will undoubtedly be the main man in midfield.

MOHAMMED KUDUS

In what will most likely be a midfield trio with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and Real Mallorca’s Iddrisu Baba, the Ajax sensation will look to show his creative ability and goal scoring prowess once again as he has done in the qualifiers so far.

KAMALDEEN SULEMANA

The 19-year-old winger, perhaps, Ghana’s most dangerous player at the moment, and following his fine form at club level, will hope to fetch his first goal for the Black Stars against the Walias.

ANDRE AYEW

The former Swansea City man is enjoying a purple patch of form at club level, having registered seven goals in nine league matches for Qatari side Al Sadd so far this season. Just as he scored against Zimbabwe last month, the Black Stars captain will hope to spur his team on to victory on Thursday.