Brimah among four key players axed from Ghana starting line up – Fatau, Schlupp start against Mali

Ghana coach Avram Grant has axed goalkeeper Razak Brimah from his starting line-up and replaced him with Fatau Dauda for Tuesday night's friendly against Mali while living up to his promise of using a new formation for the game.

In a posting on the Ghana FA's official twitter handle, the Israeli tactician also left out regular starters Mubarak Wakaso, Kwesi Appiah and Jordan Ayew as he seeks to give playing time to some players who have been on the fringes of the starting team since he took over the Black Stars.

Jeffery Schlupp and striker Richmond Boayke Yiadom will get their first starts under the former Chelsea trainer while Rabiu Mohammed will also get a rare start for the Black Stars since Grant took over before the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Grant will deploy the 4-3-3 formation n favour of the 4-4-2 system he used at the tournament in Equatorial Guinea in February that helped the Black Stars to reach the final.

The tactician had already hinted that he wants to variate the system that the Black Stars would be playing in on trial basis to see if it can serve the country well in future.

Belgium-based midfielder Frank Acheampong will get the opportunity to play from his favourite right wing position but this time with more opportunities to attack as a decoy striker.

Yiadom, who scored the consolation goal of the Black Stars as a substitute in their previous game against Senegal on Saturday will start in attack.

He will be supported in attack by Acheampong and Christian Atsu which means the Black Stars have more attackers in the game.

But Acheampong and Atsu will have the duty of supporting captain Andre Ayew, Rabiu Mohammed and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu who will be the three men in midfielder in the 4-3-3 system.

Injury to Jonathan Mensah means Daniel Amartey will partner John Boye in the heart of the defence while Schlupp will play in the left-back position with Harrison Afful on the right side of defence.

Dauda will the chance to start ahead of Razak Brimah who has been keeping the post of the national team since the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ghana starting line up