Ghana names squad for COSAFA cup despite earlier fears

Ghana is willing to play in the 2015 COSAFA Cup tournament with the naming of a preliminary squad despite earlier fears of a pull-out from the West African country following xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Coach Maxwell Konadu has finally named a preliminary 26-man squad to play in the competition to be hosted by South Africa this month.

This shows clearly that the Ghanaians are preparing for the tournament after they expressed fears that they could withdraw from the competition if their players are at risk.

“We have not heard anything from the organisers except a message on their task from SAFA which was issued last week,” Fred Pappoe, chairman of the local Black Stars management committee said last month.

Anti-immigration violence in the rainbow nation last month received worldwide condemnation with at least seven people reported dead which prompted Ghana’s threat.

With Konadu naming his squad, Ghana looks to be ready to play in the competition as they have been invited as a guests in the tournament meant for Southern African Nations from May 17- 30.

Ghana were invited alongside Tanzania to replace Angola and Comoros Islands for the tournament.

The Southern Africa regional competition which has Ghana and Tanzania as guests begins on May 17 but the Local Black Stars are scheduled to join to join from May 24 – at the quarterfinals stage where they will face the winner of Group B.

Group B has Lesotho, Tanzania, Madagascar and Swaziland.

Six players are expected to be dropped from the list which boasts of current First Capital Plus Premier League top scorer Nathaniel Asamoah, 2014 World Cup goalkeeping duo Fatau Dauda and Stephen Adams among other top performing players in the local league.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Mozart Adjetey (Heart of Lions), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: Godfred Saka (Aduana Stars), Amos Korankye (Hasaacas), Tijani Joshua (Ashantigold), Emmanuel Asante (Asante Kotoko), Gideon Waja (WAFA), Zakari Mumuni (WAFA), Ahmed Adams (Asante Kotoko), Asiamah Badu (Heart of Lions), Abeiku Ainooson (Asante Kotoko), Alfred Nelson (Liberty Professionals)

Midfielders: Eric Kumi (Hearts of Oak), Michael Akuffo (Asante Kotoko), Eric Opoku (Ashantigold), Noah Martey (Bechem United), Isaac Twum (Heart of Lions), Hans Kwofie (Medeama), Bernard Morrison (Ashantigold), Daniel Darkwah (Aduana Stars), Malik Akowuah (Medeama)

Forwards: Kwame Boateng (Great Olympics), Yakubu Mohammed – Ashantigold), Nathaniel Asamoah (Medeama), Gilbert Fiamenyo (Hearts of Oak)