Ghana Prepares For CAN 2010
Even before hosting Mali in the final match of the 2010 Nation's Cup/World Cup qualifying series next weekend in Kumasi, the Black Stars have begun feverish preparations for next year's most prestigious competition for Africa.
Right after the Lions of Mali clash in Group D, the Black Stars would emplane for Luanda, Angola to play the Palancas Negras in an international friendly on November 18.
The match would also be used to test the readiness of the Luanda stadium ahead of the finals in late January.
Presently, the Angolans, led by a Portuguese coach, have been preparing feverishly for the upcoming competition after they failed to qualify for the second round of the ongoing CAN 2010 and World Cup Qualifiers.
And they believe the match against the Black Stars on Wednesday November 18 would also test the strength of the team before the big take-off
Meanwhile, Milovan Rajevac has included six members of the World U-20 winning team in his squad to face the Lions of Mali in the final game of the CAN 2010 and 2010 World Cup qualifiers as well as the international friendly with Angola.
Andre Ayew, Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Addo, , Agyemang Badu and goalkeeper Daniel Adjei join the 20-man Ghana squad for the home game against the Malians at the Baba Yara Stadium on November 15.
Defender Daniel Addo, striker and goalkeeper Daniel Adjei would thus be playing their first match for the Black Stars.
Kwadwo Asamoah has also been recalled by Coach Rajevac after being out for four months due to injury. Dede also joins the team for the first time since January this year.
The Black Stars enter the final qualifier having already secured their places at the Nations Cup in Angola and the World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.
They currently lead Group D with 12 points, four points ahead of their opponents, Mali.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan Athletic, England), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana)
Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England), Samuel Inkoom (Basel, Switzerland), Jonathan Quartey (Nice, France), Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland) Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany) Lee Addy (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana) Daniel Addo (King Faisal, Ghana)
Midfielders: Stephen Appiah (Bologna, Italy), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Andre Ayew (Arles-Avagnon, France), Agyemang Badu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana) Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy)
Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), (Fredrikstad FK, Norway) Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy).
By Charles Nixon Yeboah