FIVE debutants from 2013 AFCON squad remain in Ghana's current crop

By Ameenu Shardow

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Ghana named ten (10) players in its final 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squad who will be making their maiden appearance at the finals – the same number of debutants that were named for the 2013 edition.

Black Stars coach Avram Grant can however be pardoned for the lack of growing experience in his squad as compared to Ghana’s final roster last term under coach Kwesi Appiah mainly due to injuries.

Key midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah was unable to make the squad due to a knee injury which according to doctors will take three months to heal.

The Juventus man was part of the squad that finished fourth in South Africa and would have easily made the current squad had he been fit.

Jeffery Schlupp and Majeed Waris who were thought to be on their way to playing for the first times in the finals were also robbed off this opportunity through injury.

Defender Jerry Akaminko who also played in his first ever Nations Cup finals two years ago has been crocked for over six months now and was not even considered in the provisional squad.

Albert Adomah who was also one of the 10 debutants last term did not make the first cut having been named in the initial 31-man provisional squad.

Another one of last term’s debutant Richard Kissi Boateng is not deemed good enough to make a return to the finals despite his continues regular activity on the domestic front with TP Mazembe. He wasn’t even considered in the provisional squad.

Strikers Richmond Boakye Yiadon [who made last term’s squad as a debutant but never played due to injury] and Emmanuel Clottey also failed to make returns to the finals.

It therefore leaves only Mubarak Wakaso, Rabiu Mohammed, Christian Atsu, Solomon Asante and Awal Mohammed as the only surviving members from last term’s crop of 10 debutants to the AFCON finals.

The Black Stars will once again be parading a new set of 10 debutants – meaning only 13 have had prior experience of playing at the AFCON just like two years ago when Ghana finished a disappointing fourth.

10 debutants in Ghana’s 2013 AFCON squad: Richard Kissi Boateng, Awal Mohammed, Jerry Akaminko, Wakasu Mubarak, Rabiu Mohammed, Solomon Asante, Albert Adomah, Christian Atsu, Richmond Boakye Yiadom and Emmanuel Clottey.

10 debutants in Ghana’s 2015 AFCON squad: Razak Brimah, Ernest Sowah, Baba Rahman, Daniel Amartey, Edwin Gyimah, Afriyie Acquah, Frank Acheampong, David Accam, Kwesi Appiah and Mahatma Otoo.