Agyemang-Badu to captain Ghana for Canada friendly

Udinese star Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has been confirmed as the captain for the Black Stars in Tuesday’s international friendly with Canada in Washington, GHANAsoccernet.com have revealed.

The ball-battling midfielder returns to the squad after missing September’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in the 2017 AFCON qualifier and has been handed the armband due to the unavailability of substantive captain Asamoah Gyan and vice Andre Ayew who are both missing the game with injuries.

GHANAsoccernet.com revealed on Saturday morning that the midfielder will be leading the Ghana side into the friendly and coach Avram Grant has confirmed.

Badu, who turns 25 in December, has worn the armband in the absence of Gyan and Ayew and will lead the charges in the friendly after demonstrating leadership qualities in the team.

He made his debut for the Black Stars in June 2008 in a game against Lesotho and has gone ahead to make 62 appearances, scoring 10 goals on the road.

His goal for Ghana against Guinea at the 2012 AFCON was nominated for FIFA’s Puskas Best Goal of the Year which Colombian Radamel Falcao won.

Ghana coach Avram Grant has named four debutants including MLS duo of Lloyd Sam and Kwadwo Poku who play for New York Red Bulls and New York City FC respectively. Germany-based Philemon Ofosu-Ayeh who plays for Bundesliga II side Eintracht Braunschweig and former Asante Kotoko defender Gideon Baah have all been handed places in the squad to fight for places.

Sassuolo midfielder Alfred Duncan gets another chance to impress in the Black Stars after the Italy-based enforcer had a previous stint with the national team.

The Black Stars will take on Canada at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC.

The match will kick off on Tuesday at 7:30pm local time in Washington DC.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah (Cordoba, Spain) and Fatau Dauda (AshGold)

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Phil Ofosu-Ayeh (Eintracht Braunschweig, Germany), Jeffery Schlupp (Leicester City, England), Gideon Baah (HJK Helsinki, Finland), John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey), Edwin Gyimah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa),

Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy) (C), Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy), Mubarak Wakaso (Las Palmas, Spain), Lloyd Ekow Sam (New York Red Bulls, USA) Bernard Mensah (Getafe, Spain), Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo, Italy), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough, England) and Kwadwo Poku (New York City FC, USA)

Strikers: Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa, England), Abdul Majeed Waris, (Lorient, France) and David Accam (Chicago Fire, USA).