By Patrick Akoto
Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh has a strong final squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup that includes talented Europe-based players Godfred Donsah and Clifford Aboagye who have not trained with the team, GHANASoccernet.com can exclusively report.
The 21-man squad includes eight foreign-based players who all play for European clubs with Aboagye and Donsah the famous among them.
The 18-year-old versatile has been included in the set of players for the tournament to be played in New Zealand from 30 May to 20 June despite his unavailability for camping.
The Italy-based player was unable to join the team because his Italian club refused to release him but his prospects and his performance in the Serie A looks to have forced the hand of the coach.
Donsah, who is wanted by clubs in England and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, will join multi-talented Clifford Aboagye who has also been named even though he could not join the pre-tournament camp because of his commitments with Spanish side Granada.
Tetteh, who won the 2009 World Cup in Egypt, retained majority of the players who played at the African Championship in Senegal early this year where they won bronze.
He settled on his final squad after Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Portugal in Sydney.
Austria-based duo Lawrence Ati-Zigi and David Atanga, defender Emmanuel Ntim of Valenciennes, Rio Ave’s Emmanuel Boateng and Osei Barnes who plays for Portuguese side Paios Ferriera managed to gatecrash the squad.
Inter Allies enterprising left-back Patrick Kpozo managed to make the cut.
Ghana will wrap up their preparations with a friendly against Colombia before playing their Group B opener against Austria on 30 May.
The Black Satellites will also face Argentina and Panama in the Group stage.
Ghana U20 final squad:
Goalkeepers: Kwame Baah (Heart of Lions), Siedu Muntawakilu (Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria)
Defenders: Kingsley Fobi (Right to Dream), Owusu Bempah (Hearts of Oak), Joseph Aidoo (Inter Allies), Joseph Adjei (Wa All Stars), Emmanuel Ntim (Valenciennes, France), Patrick Asmah (BA United), Patrick Kpozo (Inter Allies)
Midfielders: Aseidu Attobrah (New Edubiase), Godfred Donsah (Calgliari, Italy), Kofi Yeboah (Wa All Stars), Prosper Kasim (Inter Allies), David Atanga (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Yaw Yeboah (Man City), Clifford Aboagye (Granada, Spain), Osei Barnes (Pacos Ferriera, Portugal)
Strikers: Benjamin Tetteh (Dreams FC), Emmanuel Boateng (Rio Ave, Portugal), Samuel Tetteh (WAFA)