Ghana set for wild hunt of foreign-born players

Coach Kwesi Appiah says he has penciled down between eight to 10 players who could make nationality switch in favour of the Black Stars

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has set his sights on a chase for foreign-born players of Ghanaian origin.

The 56-year-old was reappointed Black Stars trainer last month, having earlier guided the team between 2012 and 2014.

Among his immediate objectives is to increase competition in his squad, something he hopes to achieve by the introduction of fresh blood.

"If there are players born outside or who grew up outside and they can add to the quality of the team then you must make the effort," Appiah told KweseESPN.

"There are about eight to ten players that I have given to the GFA to make enquiries about how we can get them on our side.

"If they are good enough, we want them to play for Ghana. That has to be my priority as Ghana coach."

Goal can confirm that Manchester United and Netherlands youth defender Timothy Fosu Mensah, Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao and Germany under-21 star Gideon Jung are high on the said list. However, all three players turned down an initial approach from Ghanaian officials.

Italy youth defender Claud Adjapong, who has already been contacted by the GFA and 18-year-old Kevin Danso of Augsburg and Austria's youth set up as well as AZ Alkmaar defender and Netherlands under-21 stalwart Derrick Luckassen could also be targeted on this mission.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Adam Kwarasey and Emmanuel Frimpong are some players who have switched international allegiance to the Black Stars in recent times.