World Cup squad: Did Appiah get it right?

Read Article

Comments (59)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (59)

Africanus 9 years ago

Boakye Yiadom has obviously not impressed coach Appiah. Even he could not make it into the stand-by list. Otoo has been selected ahead of him.

Boakye Yiadom has obviously not impressed coach Appiah. Even he could not make it into the stand-by list. Otoo has been selected ahead of him.
Fiifi 9 years ago

I would have Helegbe on the list ahead of Essien and Otto.We want what is good for the country not quotas.

I would have Helegbe on the list ahead of Essien and Otto.We want what is good for the country not quotas.
Ghanian Constitution's Super-Flawed 9 years ago

Is Jonathan Mensah the answer to absence of John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah at the center defense?

Who's better, Jonathan Mensah vrs Awal Mohammed?

What do think about Mahatma Otoo playing on the right wing?

What's AA d ...
read full comment

Is Jonathan Mensah the answer to absence of John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah at the center defense?

Who's better, Jonathan Mensah vrs Awal Mohammed?

What do think about Mahatma Otoo playing on the right wing?

What's AA doing now? Is he polishing his game reading acumen/skillz, tactics, or strategies?
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

Why otoo? Tweaaaaa...send yiadom to Norway or swiss and he will destroy. The defence in La liga are miles ahead of swiss and norway

Why otoo? Tweaaaaa...send yiadom to Norway or swiss and he will destroy. The defence in La liga are miles ahead of swiss and norway
Soso 9 years ago

I want to send this message to Coach Appiah:
1. Please all that we want is goal scoring.Please advise our players to practice shooting from any angle. I mean very very powerful shots at goal from any angle.
2.When during th ...
read full comment

I want to send this message to Coach Appiah:
1. Please all that we want is goal scoring.Please advise our players to practice shooting from any angle. I mean very very powerful shots at goal from any angle.
2.When during the course of play players pass the ball to the goalkeeper, the goal keeper should catch that ball with the hand, not to shoot the ball back into play. In most cases the opponents get that ball.
3.They should not give out too many free kicks.
4.No slow and shot passes please. I want to see very fast football with strong mental focus.
5. Lastly every minute of the game is counting, so no beautiful football we want to see goals.
6. Watchout so that they are not taken by surprise, when free kicks are taken quickly and suddenly.
Kenneth Osei-Afriyie 9 years ago

Mr Soso you make some very sound technical points. In fact your warning about giving away free kicks is very timely, especially in dangerous areas. But I hope you have not forgotten that a keeper collecting a back pass from t ...
read full comment

Mr Soso you make some very sound technical points. In fact your warning about giving away free kicks is very timely, especially in dangerous areas. But I hope you have not forgotten that a keeper collecting a back pass from team with hands rather than kicking or heading constitutes a free kick. Even worst it could be right nearer goal than from the penalty spot. Thank you for allowing me to point this out.
benjamin O.anane 9 years ago

Mr Kenneth, your correction worth recommendation.

Mr Kenneth, your correction worth recommendation.
Sarskoberta 9 years ago

It is the prerogative of the DRAA Law to pick and choose these gallant men.

Much same, we have the right to talk about the food being served us. Why bcos we are the consumers poised to fill the void, OOPS! the stomach ooo. ...
read full comment

It is the prerogative of the DRAA Law to pick and choose these gallant men.

Much same, we have the right to talk about the food being served us. Why bcos we are the consumers poised to fill the void, OOPS! the stomach ooo.
Where did we go wrong?
Beats Me.
Adomako 9 years ago

You are right we should go in there with the mentality to win not to show off.I think the coaching staff should set the tone right from the beginning.For God sake please cut Essien and Jordan.Their contribution is going to ve ...
read full comment

You are right we should go in there with the mentality to win not to show off.I think the coaching staff should set the tone right from the beginning.For God sake please cut Essien and Jordan.Their contribution is going to very minimum at best.
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

Cut Essien? Wat did he do vs egypt? U forget already?....
Jordan must be sent home.We hve too many mids we don't need. We need defenders and potent strikers with a few mids who can run, dish passes thru the middle. Aa is ban ...
read full comment

Cut Essien? Wat did he do vs egypt? U forget already?....
Jordan must be sent home.We hve too many mids we don't need. We need defenders and potent strikers with a few mids who can run, dish passes thru the middle. Aa is banking the team on mids?...concentrate on defence, striking then mids...
Adomako 9 years ago

That was just one game and his performance was not that great or above everyone else.The team had a good game and everyone played well.The next match was a different story.Essien may have had a good game but we have others wh ...
read full comment

That was just one game and his performance was not that great or above everyone else.The team had a good game and everyone played well.The next match was a different story.Essien may have had a good game but we have others who will give great performances. And we don't need three keepers.
GHFUO, MALLAM MAHAMA BB! 9 years ago

THE ONLY PLAYER I WILL DROP FROM UR LIST WILL BE JORDAN , THATS BECOS HE IS NOT RIPE. HIS CONFIDENCE IS EVEN MORE SHATTERED SINCE HE COULDNT HELP SOCHAUX ESCAPE RELEGATION. WE NEED ESSIEN'S MATURITY N EXPERIENCE IN BRASIL. YO ...
read full comment

THE ONLY PLAYER I WILL DROP FROM UR LIST WILL BE JORDAN , THATS BECOS HE IS NOT RIPE. HIS CONFIDENCE IS EVEN MORE SHATTERED SINCE HE COULDNT HELP SOCHAUX ESCAPE RELEGATION. WE NEED ESSIEN'S MATURITY N EXPERIENCE IN BRASIL. YOUNG PLAYERS ARE PRONE TO MAKING CARELESS, BOOKABLE OFFENCES THAT COULD COST US. THIS IS WHY SCOLARI HAS 6 PRIOR WCUP PLAYERS IN HIS SQUAD. THEY UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE N KNOW WAT TO DO. ESSIEN N JOHN MENSAH ARENT DIFFERENT. JOHN MENSAH IS SIMPLY INJURY PRONE N NOT EVEN COMPETING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL N DATS WHY HE WAS SCRATCHED. WE NEED RASHID SUMAILA BECOS HE HAS BEEN PIVOTAL FOR HIS CLUB N HELPED THEM WIN THE SAFRICAN LEAGUE. HIS CONFIDENCE N WINNING MENTALITY IS TOPS N WE NEED THAT IN BRASIL. DAUDA...IF WE HAD ANY BETTER GOALIES, I WOULD ASK FOR HIM TO BE DROPPED BUT WE DONT. OUR BEST BET ASIDE FROM HIM ARE ADJEI N BRAIMAH. NOT GOOD ENUFF TO COMPETE AT THE WCUP, IM SORRY. ADJEI IS COMING OFF A HERNIA OPERATION N BRAIMAH SIMPLY HASNT BEEN TESTED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. IM NOT GOING TO GAMBLE. DAUDA MAY BE RUSTY, BUT HE GOT GH TO BRASIL N WE KNOW WAT HE CAN DO IN A TOURNAMNT...AFCON13.
benjamin O.anane 9 years ago

Soso you are very wise. You didnt bring your own players to be added to the team.A team is collabeboration, so this wise coach chose his players from a wide range of reasons for his misssion. Thanks for your caution to the ...
read full comment

Soso you are very wise. You didnt bring your own players to be added to the team.A team is collabeboration, so this wise coach chose his players from a wide range of reasons for his misssion. Thanks for your caution to the coach.
WENCHI MOKE 9 years ago

G.KEEPER CANNOT CATCH THE BALL WITH THE HANDS WHEN THE BALL IS PASSED INTENTIONALLY TO HIM BY HIS OWN PLAYER.
. THIS RULE HAS BEEN IN EFFECT,I THINK SINCE U.S.A '94 WAS IMPLEMENTED TO STOP TIME WASTING TATICS BY TEAM ...
read full comment

G.KEEPER CANNOT CATCH THE BALL WITH THE HANDS WHEN THE BALL IS PASSED INTENTIONALLY TO HIM BY HIS OWN PLAYER.
. THIS RULE HAS BEEN IN EFFECT,I THINK SINCE U.S.A '94 WAS IMPLEMENTED TO STOP TIME WASTING TATICS BY TEAMS.
hmmmmmm 9 years ago

Not good

Not good
sadat b. abass 9 years ago

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE TELL ME AMONG OUR DEFENDERS WHO HAS PLAYED ENOUGH MATCHES FOR HIS TEAM THIS SEASON, I MEAN COMPETITIVE MATCHES,

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE TELL ME AMONG OUR DEFENDERS WHO HAS PLAYED ENOUGH MATCHES FOR HIS TEAM THIS SEASON, I MEAN COMPETITIVE MATCHES,
Mo 9 years ago

I HAVE NOT HEARD A PEEP FROM THESE CRYBABY IDIOTS ABOUT THE FACT THAT OTOO HAS BEEN PLACED AHEAD OF YIADOM AND HELEGBE.I AM SICK OF THESE GROWNMEN CONSTANTLY CRYING LIKE THE LITTLE BITCHES THAT THEY ARE EVERY TIME SOME ONE GE ...
read full comment

I HAVE NOT HEARD A PEEP FROM THESE CRYBABY IDIOTS ABOUT THE FACT THAT OTOO HAS BEEN PLACED AHEAD OF YIADOM AND HELEGBE.I AM SICK OF THESE GROWNMEN CONSTANTLY CRYING LIKE THE LITTLE BITCHES THAT THEY ARE EVERY TIME SOME ONE GETS AHEAD OF THEM.IDIOTS.
Mark 9 years ago

Otoo, Yiadom, Assifuah are at about the same level. To me, it doesn't matter which of these three are on stand by, since they will spend most of their time on the bench even if they made it to the final 23. The coach should s ...
read full comment

Otoo, Yiadom, Assifuah are at about the same level. To me, it doesn't matter which of these three are on stand by, since they will spend most of their time on the bench even if they made it to the final 23. The coach should seriously consider including Edusei. He is the one guy from the Chan team, besides Adams, who did enough to merit a call to the Black Stars. Maybe his lack of experience playing at the international level is hurting him, but he was fantastic at the Chan.
ODARTEY 9 years ago

@MO, no Ga-Adangbe is crying over the squad. This includes my GA, ADA, KROBO, and SHAI people. The Team is strong. Do not paint one people with a broad stroke! that's simply careless. Also as a GA watch your tone! One thing y ...
read full comment

@MO, no Ga-Adangbe is crying over the squad. This includes my GA, ADA, KROBO, and SHAI people. The Team is strong. Do not paint one people with a broad stroke! that's simply careless. Also as a GA watch your tone! One thing you should know as a Ghanaian is that we are not "talkers". Good you are writing over the Computer as know you would not dare walk in Accra and utter such sentiments aloud as you know you would be CHECKED in person as you are being CHECKED from the PC.
KIM 9 years ago

JORDAN AYEW MUST BE DROPPED. DON'T TRY TO PLEASE ABEDI OR ANDRE AYEW

JORDAN AYEW MUST BE DROPPED. DON'T TRY TO PLEASE ABEDI OR ANDRE AYEW
kkkkk 9 years ago

I am being a lone crusader here that from what I have seen from Jordan Ayew lately he may well be our revelation at the WC cup if he makes it. I am saying thing because I was one person who criticized Abedi's kids so much tha ...
read full comment

I am being a lone crusader here that from what I have seen from Jordan Ayew lately he may well be our revelation at the WC cup if he makes it. I am saying thing because I was one person who criticized Abedi's kids so much that I nearly got a nickname out it. After watching Ghana vs Holland before the 2010 World Cup on my computer, I told people that Andre Ayew will be a revelation at the AFCON 2010 and WC 2010 and it came to pass. Today having watched Jordan Ayew, I can say just as I did that he has come of age. Thanks to Herve Renard who knew him previously has turned him to a man, willing to share, able to run into pockets of spaces and bold to challenge.
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

Boye or nkum must be dropped for adusei. U can drop nkum and let boye play the rightback or drop boye for adusei.

Boye or nkum must be dropped for adusei. U can drop nkum and let boye play the rightback or drop boye for adusei.
Rahman 9 years ago

The Ga people do complain a lot but so do the Ewes and Fantis.I wonder why you single out the Ga people for this tongue lashing.The time for name calling and complaining should be over.It is time to support the boys.

The Ga people do complain a lot but so do the Ewes and Fantis.I wonder why you single out the Ga people for this tongue lashing.The time for name calling and complaining should be over.It is time to support the boys.
LOGICAL LOGIC 9 years ago

Your piece is fantastic, incisive and worth reading. But who is the actual personality who put this together? Kudos, and more grease to your elbows.

Finally, may the humble soul of Uncle PV rest in perfect peacw.

Your piece is fantastic, incisive and worth reading. But who is the actual personality who put this together? Kudos, and more grease to your elbows.

Finally, may the humble soul of Uncle PV rest in perfect peacw.
Jetmoney 9 years ago

What sense does this article make, selection has been done lets hope for the best , don't come create any unnecessary scene out here

What sense does this article make, selection has been done lets hope for the best , don't come create any unnecessary scene out here
Akamai 9 years ago

Totally agree with you... I wanted yiadomboakye on team but on second thought he has not really done anything exceptional and therefore was a coin toss between other suitors. Let's just move on

Totally agree with you... I wanted yiadomboakye on team but on second thought he has not really done anything exceptional and therefore was a coin toss between other suitors. Let's just move on
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

County toss between who! Jordan and accam? U blind? Put yiadom in sochaux or Sweden and he will destroy them. The defence and strikers in La liga are no match for other leagues...

County toss between who! Jordan and accam? U blind? Put yiadom in sochaux or Sweden and he will destroy them. The defence and strikers in La liga are no match for other leagues...
Mark 9 years ago

Accam has some attributes that no one in the Black Stars has. There are people in the current black Stars with the attributes that Yiadom has, that's why Yiadom does not stand out. And Please, Yiadom is not better than Accam. ...
read full comment

Accam has some attributes that no one in the Black Stars has. There are people in the current black Stars with the attributes that Yiadom has, that's why Yiadom does not stand out. And Please, Yiadom is not better than Accam. I think some of you are giving Yiadom too much credit. If he is that good, he should have at least been the top scorer at the under 20 level. Don't get me wrong, I think he is good, but you're making him look like he is at the same level as Christiano Ronaldo, and he isn't. Yiadom is about the same level as Assifuah and Otoo and the coach knows that. The coach has invited Yiadom to Black Stars before and didn't see anything exceptional in the guy. No need to exaggerate his achievements. There's no way of proving that if he were in Sweden, he would have scored more goals than Accam.
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

Accam has the same attributes as warris. No one on the team has height like yiadom. Can score with nothing head and feet as a striker! I told u alrdy that yiadom wasn't given th. Chance to be the top scorer at u 20 becos the ...
read full comment

Accam has the same attributes as warris. No one on the team has height like yiadom. Can score with nothing head and feet as a striker! I told u alrdy that yiadom wasn't given th. Chance to be the top scorer at u 20 becos the gh team handlers were showcasing the home based players. So they can get foreign contracts. Yiadom. Was already with the bstars, u forgot? In the first u20 game he was benched. He played in game 2 and gh won...lol yiadom is not Ronaldo, u r right. Evryone knows dat. But he is miles ahead of otoo and assifuah. Heck, yiadom singlehndly brought sassuolo to Italian premier....lol and Juve bought him. Who scored against egypt in the friendly before afcon 13? Go know uojtube and watch the video, u forget? U are a very forgetful dude. I can tell by ur writing...the way of proving to u that yiadom would hve been better in Sweden is this. He is a Juve player. He plays in spain and is the top scorer on his team. Even tho he is a sub. He means so much to his team dat if u left off yiadom. His club would be heading str8 to relegation. This is la liga!
Mark 9 years ago

We did not win game 2 at the under 20 level. We lost 1-3 to France in game 1, and we lost 0-1 to Spain. The only game we won at the group level was the one against USA, where we won 4-1. Assifuah scored twice in that game. Wh ...
read full comment

We did not win game 2 at the under 20 level. We lost 1-3 to France in game 1, and we lost 0-1 to Spain. The only game we won at the group level was the one against USA, where we won 4-1. Assifuah scored twice in that game. Where was Yiadom?

Here are Yiadom's player stats:
2009-2012 (Genoa): 7 appearances, scored 1 goal
2011-2012 (on Loan to Sassuolo): 32 appearances, scored 10 goals.
2012-2013 (on Loan to Sassuolo). 31 appearances, scored 11 goals.
2013-present (On loan to elche). 30 appearances, scored 6 goals.

Boakye is doing well, don't get me wrong. What I'm saying is that he is not a Maradona, Ronaldo, or Messi. He is not even an Asamoah Gyan yet, although Gyan is much older and Boakye has time to catch up. He is not an indispensable player. The goal he scored against Egypt was an easy tap in that any striker worth his paycheck could have scored. He missed an earlier chance in that game and would have been deserving of some lashing if he had not scored that goal. He was invited to play against Sudan, and he couldn't score against them, even though the Sudanese were probably fasting. How can you call that an indispensable player. If Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldo, or Messi are not on a team, everyone notices that something is missing. Those are indispensable players.
GHFUO, MALLAM MAHAMA BB! 9 years ago

WHY DONT U PRODUCE THE HARD CORE FACTS FOR JORDAN AYEW AND ACCAM AS WELL? NOW, U ARE COMPARING YIADOM TO GYAN, RONALDO, MARADONA NMESSI? SHAME ON U. U SAID JORDAN N ACCAM WERE BETTER THAN YIADOM. THE STATS U HVE PROVIDED ALON ...
read full comment

WHY DONT U PRODUCE THE HARD CORE FACTS FOR JORDAN AYEW AND ACCAM AS WELL? NOW, U ARE COMPARING YIADOM TO GYAN, RONALDO, MARADONA NMESSI? SHAME ON U. U SAID JORDAN N ACCAM WERE BETTER THAN YIADOM. THE STATS U HVE PROVIDED ALONE DEBUNKS UR EARLIER ASSERTION. NOW, LOOK AT WHERE U R TRYING TO TAKE THE ISSUE....
Mark 9 years ago

I think you are misquoting me. I clearly stated in another thread that Jordan was the only player that you could claim Yiadom is better than at the moment, although Yiadom is much older than Jordan in real terms, and that the ...
read full comment

I think you are misquoting me. I clearly stated in another thread that Jordan was the only player that you could claim Yiadom is better than at the moment, although Yiadom is much older than Jordan in real terms, and that there might be other considerations to keep in mind when evaluating Jordan. I also stated that I believed Yiadom was at best, on the same level with Assifuah, Otoo, and Accam, but definitely not better than Warris.

If I had to rank them, here's how I would rank the strikers we've been discussing.
1. Gyan
2. Warris
3. Accam
4. Otoo
5. Assifuah
6. Yiadom
7. Jordan

Here are some player stats for you to consider:

Abdul Majeed Warris:
2010-2012: BK Hacken, Sweden : 26 goals in 55 appearances
2013: Spartak Moscow : 1 goal in 11 appearances
2014-Present (On loan to Valenciennes)
9 goals in 16 appearances
Ghana: 4 goals in 9 appearances

Richmond Boakye Yiadom
2009-2012 (Genoa): 7 appearances, scored 1 goal
2011-2012 (on Loan to Sassuolo): 32 appearances, scored 10 goals.
2012-2013 (on Loan to Sassuolo). 31 appearances, scored 11 goals.
2013-present (On loan to elche). 31 appearances, scored 6 goals
Ghana: 2 goals in 7 appearances
Ghana U20: 3 goals in 7 appearances

David Accam:
2009-2010: Ledbury town: 5 goals in 8 appearances
2010-2011: Evesham United: 10goals in 20 appearances
2012: Ostersund : 9 goals in 14 appearances
2012-Present : Helsinborg: 19 goals in 46 appearances

Jordan Ayew
2009-Present: Marseille: 24 goals in 111 appearances
2014-Present: Sochaux: 5 goals in 17 appearances
Ghana: 2 goals in 10 appearances

Andre Ayew
2007 – Present: Marseille: 36 goals in 114 appearances
Ghana U20: 4 goals in 12 appearances
Ghana: 4 goals in 47 appearances

Mahatma Otoo
2008-2009: Sporting Mirren: 17 goals in 31 appearances
2009-2010: Hearts of Oak: 10 goals in 19 appearances
2010: Esperance Sportive de Tunis (on loan): 4 goals in 10 appearances
2012-2013: Hearts of Oak: 20 goals in 26 appearances
2013: Songdal : 1 goals in 10 appearances
2014-Present: Songdal: 5 goals in 8 appearances
Ghana Under 20: 4 goals in 4 appearances

Ebenezer Assifuah
2012-2013: Liberty Professionals: 8 goals in 16 appearances
2013-Present: FC Sion, Swiss Super League : 7 goals in 24 appearances
2013-Present: FC Sion, Overall**: 15 goals in 31 appearances
Ghana U20: 9 goals in 12 appearances
** Includes goals scored in 1 liga promotion

Asamoah Gyan
2003: Liberty Professionals: 10 goals in 16 appearances
2003-2008: Udinese: 11 goals in 39 appearances
2004-2006: (on loan to Modena) : 15 goals in 53 appearances
2008-2010: Rennes : 14 goals in 48 appearances
2010-2012: Sunderland: 10 goals in 34 appearances
2011-2012: (on loan to Al Ain) : 22 goals in 18 appearances
2012-Present: 59 goals in 47 appearances
Ghana: 39 goals in 77 appearances

Didier Drogba
1998-2002: Le Mans : 12 goals in 64 appearances
2002 -2003: Guingamp: 20 goals in 45 appearances
2003-2004: Marseille: 19 goals in 35 appearances
2004-2012: Chelsea: 100 goals in 226 appearances
2012-2013: Shanghai Shenhua: 8 goals in 11 appearances
2013-Present: Galatasaray: 15 goals in 35 appearances
Ivory coast: 63 goals in 99 appearances

Samuel Etoo
2000 : (on loan to Mallorca) : 6 goals in 19 appearances
2000-2004: Mallorca: 48 goals in 120 appearances
2004-2009: Barcelona: 108 goals in 145 appearances
2009-2011: Internationale: 33 goals in 67 appearances
2011-2013: Anzhi Makhachkala: 25 goals in 53 matches
2013 – Present: Chelsea : 9 goals in 13 appearances
1997 – Present: Cameroon: 55 goals in 112 appearances
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

U would rank accam, otoo and assifuah over yiadom? How? Accam,otoo and assifuah havnt even played a full season in a premier lg or div 1...lol yiadom was the first to be invited to gbstars amongst the players you have mention ...
read full comment

U would rank accam, otoo and assifuah over yiadom? How? Accam,otoo and assifuah havnt even played a full season in a premier lg or div 1...lol yiadom was the first to be invited to gbstars amongst the players you have mentioned and had yiadom not been injured at afcon 13. I'm sure he would have gotten gh at least past burkina Faso n mali. Don't forget that yiadom has played in Italy and spain. Arguably the 2 toughest leagues on Europe. In terms of continental and wcup trophies, Spain and Italy have been the most successful and consistent in Europe. Mark, ur argument of seeing accam, otoo and assifuah as better strikers than yiadom in my opinion is NEGATIVE!

In a 38 game European lg season..we have aa sending players like nkum 15 games, boye 10games, wakasso less than 10, jordan less than 15....to brasil? Not serious...
Mark 9 years ago

I find it interesting how you keep stressing that playing in a tough league is what makes a player eligible for national team selection. At best, that should be just one of the things to look for, not "the be it all, end it a ...
read full comment

I find it interesting how you keep stressing that playing in a tough league is what makes a player eligible for national team selection. At best, that should be just one of the things to look for, not "the be it all, end it all." If we were to go by your sort of reasoning alone, we will have to eliminate Pele, Maradona, Zidane, and Ronaldo from their respective national teams if for one reason or another any of those players found themselves playing in a lower league, while their competitors were playing in higher ranked leagues. By the way, all of those players mentioned started their careers from lower ranked leagues and eventually made their way to the top. Accam, Assifuah, and Otoo might not be playing in top leagues at the moment, but they will be in a few years time. Yiadom started his footballing career from Bechem United, don't forget that. If you come from a humble beginning, it does not mean you don't have the potential to make it to the top. Yiadom's stats do not support the claim that he is better than Assifuah, Otoo, or Accam.

I have not been advocating the inclusion of Inkoom, Boye, Jordan, or Wakasso, so don't attribute those to me. I will not mind having Jordan and Wakasso on the team, even though they might not be at their best at the moment. Inkoom, Boye, and Rabiu are the three players that I will drop from Appiah's list of 26 players. If merit and goalscoring track record were the only considerations in selecting a player, Otoo should be selected instead of Jordan.

If Accam proves to be good on the right during the trials, I will drop Adomah and bring on Edusei, since we need to beef up our defense.
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

"I will not mind having jordan and wakasso on the team. Even tho they might not be at their best at the moment". This statement alone tells us all that u favor certain players over others not based on merit, but smthing else ...
read full comment

"I will not mind having jordan and wakasso on the team. Even tho they might not be at their best at the moment". This statement alone tells us all that u favor certain players over others not based on merit, but smthing else. U can't do that. Selectionn should be based solely on merit and nothing else. If you don't. U.put urself in a greater risk of failing. U also risk overworking the other players. The USA dream team at the Barcelona olympics was chosen purely on merit.
Mark 9 years ago

I don't favor any players whatsoever. Jordan scored 4 goals within one month, and has improved a lot recently. I see that as a sign of better things to come, and will not like to discourage him. I consider a person's potentia ...
read full comment

I don't favor any players whatsoever. Jordan scored 4 goals within one month, and has improved a lot recently. I see that as a sign of better things to come, and will not like to discourage him. I consider a person's potential for improvement when evaluating them. Some players have hit their peak, but I would not say Jordan has hit his peak at this point. I see Wakasso as the best replacement for Sulley Muntari. Assifuah is good as a striker, but I will not replace Wakasso with Assifuah, for example, because of the different roles they play in the team. If I had to put together a team, I will strive to have two players for each position. Having may strikers and a weak defense is not a good idea, and that's why I said I would replace Adomah with Edusei, if Accam does well on the right wing during the trials. I think Adomah is a bad winger, but we don't need 3 right wingers, when our defense is not that strong. Here's what my 23 man squad will look like if I had to put one out today:

Goalkeepers: Adams, Fatau, Kwarassey

L/B: Schlupp, Edusei
R/B: Afful, Opare
C/D: Jonathan, Akaminko, Sumaila

Midfield: Asamoah, Essien, Kevin, Muntari, Atsu, Wakasso, Badu, Acquah, Andre Ayew

Strikers: Accam, Warris, Otoo, Gyan

You could also play Jordan as a midfielder, but the question is who to drop and play Jordan as a midfielder. Jordan is a hardworking young man, and might fit in better as a midfielder (what they call a false 9).
Mark 9 years ago

I meant to say "I don't think Adomah is a bad winger" but missed the "don't"

I meant to say "I don't think Adomah is a bad winger" but missed the "don't"
Whatever 9 years ago

Apart from the unknown quantities, I believe 98% of those called up merit their call. However, I cannot hide my displeasure with exclusion of Boakye Yiadom but we must support the team to excel. Its already done

Apart from the unknown quantities, I believe 98% of those called up merit their call. However, I cannot hide my displeasure with exclusion of Boakye Yiadom but we must support the team to excel. Its already done
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

Let's be very fair.....
Nkum, boye, wakasso, jordan don't deserve to be on this list. Adomah has done well, but i think we have better right wingers like helegbe and nyarko of mls. Accam is good, but he hasn't proven himself ...
read full comment

Let's be very fair.....
Nkum, boye, wakasso, jordan don't deserve to be on this list. Adomah has done well, but i think we have better right wingers like helegbe and nyarko of mls. Accam is good, but he hasn't proven himself. He hasn't even played a full season in Sweden and u call him to bstars? How...this isn't fastfood! Call me stupid, but my name isn't Obeng for nuthin...
Adjasi 9 years ago

I can't agree with your suggestion to drop Wakasso,Boye and Inoue.These three have proven themselves and won their place to Brazil.However I would have loved to have Michael Helegbe,Yiadom,Adusei and Ainooson in the mix.I wil ...
read full comment

I can't agree with your suggestion to drop Wakasso,Boye and Inoue.These three have proven themselves and won their place to Brazil.However I would have loved to have Michael Helegbe,Yiadom,Adusei and Ainooson in the mix.I will have Jordan,Essien,Dauda and Rashid pack their bags.
GHFUO, MALLAM MAHAMA BB! 9 years ago

HOW MANY GAMES HAS WAKASSO PLAYED FOR HIS RUSSIAN CLUB THIS SEASON? COMPARE THAT TO WHEN HEWAS IN LA LIGA/ NKUM HAS PLAYED 15 CLUB GAMES. BOYE HAS PLAYED 10. JORDAN COULDNT HELP HIS CLUB ESCAPE RELEGATION. HIS CONFIDENCE AS A ...
read full comment

HOW MANY GAMES HAS WAKASSO PLAYED FOR HIS RUSSIAN CLUB THIS SEASON? COMPARE THAT TO WHEN HEWAS IN LA LIGA/ NKUM HAS PLAYED 15 CLUB GAMES. BOYE HAS PLAYED 10. JORDAN COULDNT HELP HIS CLUB ESCAPE RELEGATION. HIS CONFIDENCE AS A STRIKER WILL BE TESTED GOING TO BRASIL. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR WCUP PARTICIPATION. A PLAYER SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST HVE PLAYED OVER 70PERCENT OF LG GAMES. REMAIN INJURY FREE. AA IS TAKING PLAYERS WHO PLAYED BARELY 30PERCENT OF CLUB GAMES TO BRASIL. ARE WESERIOIUS? MEANWHILE, U HVE PLAYERS LIKE YIADOM, ADUSEI, HELEGBE/NYARKO OF MLS, AINOOSON. I LIKE WAT IM SEEING FROM ACCAM, BUT HE HASNT PROVEM/PLAYED A FULL SEASON IN SWEDEN TO DESERVE GOING TO BRASIL. THE FUTURE OF GH STRIKERS IS BRIGHT THO...
Soweto- London 9 years ago

I believe Kwarasey's mental block is to do with African or black teams as he excels in Europe. I will suggest to the coach that he uses Adams for the USA game and Kwarasey for the next 2. Titi Accam should make the team at a ...
read full comment

I believe Kwarasey's mental block is to do with African or black teams as he excels in Europe. I will suggest to the coach that he uses Adams for the USA game and Kwarasey for the next 2. Titi Accam should make the team at all cost with Jorday as those 2 are fearless and attack minded so we can get goals against the Portugese and Germans to qualify us. I prefer goalkeeper Razak Brimah to Dauda simply bcos he has been active this season. We must win two games with a plus 2 or 3 goal difference to see us through. Lets remember Portugal qualified at the expense of Cote D' Ivorie in d last world cup on goal difference when they put 7 past the North Korea with the Ivorians managing only 2. God bless us all and God bless our homeland Ghana and the Black Stars.
Amuzu 9 years ago

@SowetoI don't think we need three keepers so Dauda must be cut along with Essien and Jordan.Our offense will depend on how well Accam is able to blend in with the existing force of Gyan and Waris.We should leave Prince to lo ...
read full comment

@SowetoI don't think we need three keepers so Dauda must be cut along with Essien and Jordan.Our offense will depend on how well Accam is able to blend in with the existing force of Gyan and Waris.We should leave Prince to look for those opportunistic goals he has become famous for while Dede and Accam work directly behind Gyan and Waris.We can't fail with that.
Mohammed Awuni 9 years ago

Give us your opinion and stop asking questions

Give us your opinion and stop asking questions
salinsa 9 years ago

the goal keeper's trainer must quickly be replaced by either joseph carr or simon addo.
muntari in central midfield will be a disaster with his unnecessary high long passes and faulty passes and reckless late passes.
a so c ...
read full comment

the goal keeper's trainer must quickly be replaced by either joseph carr or simon addo.
muntari in central midfield will be a disaster with his unnecessary high long passes and faulty passes and reckless late passes.
a so called striking partnership will also be a disaster. kwesi better use either djan or warris but not both so that he can make room for kpb in attacking midfield where kpb can be feed by essien and can fall back to support essien when we are on the retreat.
COMMON SENSE 9 years ago

Agyeman Badu should start playing midfield position when we are playing with usa,because i heard they have their plan to play with us hard,they are not going to joke with us,warning to black stars.

Agyeman Badu should start playing midfield position when we are playing with usa,because i heard they have their plan to play with us hard,they are not going to joke with us,warning to black stars.
GORDON YEBOAH 9 years ago

I understand vorsah,john, mensah kingson exclusion but I wonder why John paintsil was not invited.is it about his marital problems or what?i think in defence,we need someone with rich experience at least John Paintsil would i ...
read full comment

I understand vorsah,john, mensah kingson exclusion but I wonder why John paintsil was not invited.is it about his marital problems or what?i think in defence,we need someone with rich experience at least John Paintsil would instruct the young ones well to defend.is his exclusion more than what I see or think.is there any special reason why John Paintsil was not invited.i must be frank,i am afraid of our defence
Omega 9 years ago

Painstil is a humble patriotic person and I love him. I think if all the players had his heart we will never be in any trouble, but I think he is a bit old and slow for this worldcup. His experience is rich but his pace is po ...
read full comment

Painstil is a humble patriotic person and I love him. I think if all the players had his heart we will never be in any trouble, but I think he is a bit old and slow for this worldcup. His experience is rich but his pace is poor and he will not be a good choice at right back were the custom is to deploy pacey wingers
abdul aziz salman 9 years ago

our targets are goals. so the coach should advise them for that and even advise them not to disapoint as.

our targets are goals. so the coach should advise them for that and even advise them not to disapoint as.
David-Agyei Johnson 9 years ago

yes

yes
Omega 9 years ago

I believe the skill level of the Black star squad is sufficient to do well at the world-cup and it is at par with the rest of the teams in our group. What will make the difference is whether the players are fit and the tactic ...
read full comment

I believe the skill level of the Black star squad is sufficient to do well at the world-cup and it is at par with the rest of the teams in our group. What will make the difference is whether the players are fit and the tactics that will be used. I have had a decent look at the game with Uruguay in the last Worldcup and I believe if we concentrate on solid defence, solid defensive midfield we will be fine. We have players who can score from distance and also make good use of set pieces. We have to defend well against pacey wingers and not concede infringement in and around our goals box and we will be very good at the cups.
Haruna,U.A.E 9 years ago

one nation one people one country in shall allahu victory will be ours ameen

one nation one people one country in shall allahu victory will be ours ameen
GHFUO, MALLAM MAHAMA BB! 9 years ago

NOW, THESE CLUELESSGFA PPL WANT TO SEND 3 STRIKERS TO BRASIL. REALLY? EVEN BRASIL ARE SENDING 4 STRIKERS. EVERY SERIOUS NATION ISSENDING 4 STRIKERS. SO WHY IS AA NOW DECIDING ON DROPPING JORDAN? U SEE, THISISWAT HAPPENS WHEN ...
read full comment

NOW, THESE CLUELESSGFA PPL WANT TO SEND 3 STRIKERS TO BRASIL. REALLY? EVEN BRASIL ARE SENDING 4 STRIKERS. EVERY SERIOUS NATION ISSENDING 4 STRIKERS. SO WHY IS AA NOW DECIDING ON DROPPING JORDAN? U SEE, THISISWAT HAPPENS WHEN U BENDOVER TO INSANE, JUVENILE NIGGA TYPE, POLITICAL DECISIONS. AA HAS FALLEN INTO A TRAP N IS NOW DESPERATE, LOOKING STUPID. U SHOULDNT HVE CALLED JORDAN IN THE FORST PLACE BECOS HIS EXPLOITS THIS SEASON DONT MERIT ACALL UP. U SHOULD HVE CALLED YIADOM N ACCAM N LET THEM BATTLE FOR THE FINAL STRIKER SPOT. NOW LOOK....DONT DROP ACQUAH BECOS HE IS A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER N WE NEED MORE DEFENSE IN TOURNAMNT SITUATIONS..DROP WAKASSO, JORDAN N ACCAM. I DNT LIKE NKUM N BOYE BUT WE NEED THEM.
Ka Nawu 9 years ago

let all pray for Akwasi Appiah hoping he make right decision

let all pray for Akwasi Appiah hoping he make right decision
danny alvez 9 years ago

i dont think we will make it through the group stage. you guys should mark my word. we dont have any better players at the defense to handle the germans and the portuguese. we should keep on dreaming.

i dont think we will make it through the group stage. you guys should mark my word. we dont have any better players at the defense to handle the germans and the portuguese. we should keep on dreaming.
No Favoritism ! 9 years ago

May 22, 2014 10:19:00 PM
The U.S. national team's all-time leading scorer will not be going to his fourth finals after coach Jurgen Klinsmann omitted him from his plans

USA's all-time leading goalscorer Landon Donovan has ...
read full comment

May 22, 2014 10:19:00 PM
The U.S. national team's all-time leading scorer will not be going to his fourth finals after coach Jurgen Klinsmann omitted him from his plans

USA's all-time leading goalscorer Landon Donovan has been left out of Jurgen Klinsmann's final 23-man World Cup squad.

The 32-year-old attacker, who has scored five goals over three World Cups, appeared in just three of 10 matches in the final round of qualifying last year after taking a nearly four-month sabbatical from the sport.

Although he appeared to win back Klinsmann's trust last summer with a standout Gold Cup, for which he was named the tournament's most outstanding player, Donovan was relegated to the bench for a friendly against Mexico last month and his coach made it clear his place in the squad was not guaranteed.

However, the decision to leave him out of the party for Brazil comes as a huge shock, with Clarence Goodson, Michael Parkhurst, Brad Evans, Maurice Edu, Joe Corona and Terrence Boyd also trimmed from the 30-man roster released last week.

Among the more notable inclusions are defenders John Brooks, Timothy Chandler and DeAndre Yedlin, midfielder Julian Green, and forward Chris Wondolowski — all of whom combined to make one appearance in World Cup qualifying.
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

In a 38 game European lg season..we have aa sending players like nkum 15 games, boye 10games, wakasso less than 10, jordan less than 15. You have accam who hasn't even played more than 10 games this season...to brasil? Not se ...
read full comment

In a 38 game European lg season..we have aa sending players like nkum 15 games, boye 10games, wakasso less than 10, jordan less than 15. You have accam who hasn't even played more than 10 games this season...to brasil? Not serious..
Nhyira 9 years ago

J Ayew out and Yiadom in

J Ayew out and Yiadom in
Ghfuo, Pastor Whodunnit! 9 years ago

Nyantakyi said the bstar list has young players and the coach is looking forward to the future? Dude, why are u focusing on the future, now? U must select players who can help you win the wcup, period. Not assembled a team f ...
read full comment

Nyantakyi said the bstar list has young players and the coach is looking forward to the future? Dude, why are u focusing on the future, now? U must select players who can help you win the wcup, period. Not assembled a team for the future? Oh lawd!...oh, u are 10yrs old wearing size 7. Why are you buying a size 12? And now u think gh can easily get to last four. Even God won't forgive you for such imbecility. If aa's select tion is not good in brasil who should we blame? U greedy bastards are busy collecting bribes from players. Disgrace!

World Cup squad: Did Appiah get it right?

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (59)

Read Comments Comments (59)