Appiah turns to new boys

Richard Mpong's impressive showing against Chile has been rewarded with another call-up

Black Stars coach James Kwasi Appiah seems to have put his faith in youth in his first assignment after handing six youngsters their first national call-ups for next month’s double header asgainst Lesotho and Zambia.

Coach Appiah included Europe-based youngsters Ishmael Yartey and Christian Atsu in his 30-man squad for the 2014 World Cup, which includes nine home-based players.

Ghana plays host to Lesotho on june 1 in Kumasi and then play away to the reigning African champions on June 9 in Norla, Zambia.

In a bold attempt to indicate he was in charge, the coach dropped Skipper John Mensah and his deputy John Paintsil who have been inactive in their European bases, but recalled players like defenders Jerry Akaminko and Daniel Addo who have been overlooked by the national teams in the last few years.

Also missing in action are Asamoah Gyan who remains on a self-imposed exile and Olympique Marseille midfielder Andre Dede ayew who is recuperatying from a shoulder surgery.

Berekum Chelsea trio of Ernest Sowah, Emmanuel Clottey and Richard Kissi Boateng lead the local legion which include Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s Ben Acheampong, Medeama’s Richard Mpong who scored for Ghana in an intenratiional friendly with Chile a few months ago

The team will start a non-residential camp in Accra next Monday and will be pruned down before they depart to Kumasi on May 27 for final preparation for the Lesotho game at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Robert Dabuo (Wa All Stars), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Cheslea), Masawudu Alhassan (Genoa, Italy), John Boye (Rennes, France), Lee Addy (Dalian Aerbin, China), Daniel Addo (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine) Rashid Sumaila (Dwarfs), Jerry Akaminko (Manisaspor, Turkey), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy), Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France) Richard Mpong (Medema) Albert Adomah (Bristol City, England), Christian Atsu (Rio Ave, Portugal), Ishamel Yartey, (Servette, Switzerland), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy).

Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Ben Acheampong (Kotoko), Emmanuel Baffour (New Edubiase), Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea).