Ghana FA offer explanation why Jerome Opoku has been handed a debut call up

Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has explained why defender, Jerome Opoku has earned a debut Ghan call-up ahead of the international friendlies against Mexico and the United States of America.

After Tariq Lamptey, Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku and Osman Bukari pulled out of the squad, the Istanbul Basaksehir defender is one of the players who have been called to join the camp

“There are pool of players in the data, we have over 50 players that are being monitored by the technical team and so there is constant review of their performance, there is a constant analysis of their performance with their various clubs," Asante Twum told Accra based Radio Gold.

“And what happens is that, after every weekend, they have a chart where players are rated based on their performance and based on their appearance for their clubs.

“Now whenever there is an opportunity for new players to come into the team, they look at the exceptional qualities and they look at the positions they play and what they bring to the table.

“Now Jerome [Opoku] has been on the radar of the technical team for some time now, during the time of Otto [Addo] he was being monitored just that there weren’t enough opportunities for him.

“Ever since Chris Hughton took over he was being monitored as well so once Daniel Amartey and Alexander Djiku fell out of the squad, the technical team felt that it was the appropriate time to bring him to the team for closer observation.

“So it is not something that, he is coming in as a new player, he is someone that has been monitored for a very long time just that he has never had his chance.

“And this time when the opportunity came, they felt it’s the time to bring him for closer observation based on what he does while he is here before they will think of what to do with him in subsequent matches," he added.

The Black Stars face the CONCACAF Champions on Saturday, October 14 before engaging the USA three days later at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

The 24-year-old has previously played for Fulham FC, Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle and Vejle. He is on loan at Basaksehir from Portugal's side, Arouca.