Coach Afranie names squad

The head coach of the national under-20 soccer team, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie on Monday named a 22-man squad including nine foreign-based players likely to make the trip to Germany on Sunday for a final brush-up towards the World Youth Tournament scheduled for Argentina from June 17 to July eight.

The team is schedule to play the German under-20 side on Sunday June 10 in Frankfurt before finally leaving for the games village in Argentina a day after.

Coach Afranie told the GNA Sports in Accra that the number would be slashed down to 20 instead of the usual 18 after trials for the Argentina tournament.

He explained that FIFA's new rule permits that two extra players be added but would not be part of the official list. He said however that, in case of any eventuality, one of the two "unofficial" could step in.

The players are Amamo Williams (Dawu), Duah Kweku (Kotoko), Emmanuel Papoe (Liberty), Okainja Thompson (Tops), Osei Frank (King Faisal), John Pentsil (Arsenals), Villar Patrick (Dwarfs), Sulley Muntari (Liberty), Inusah Abass (Real Sportive), Maxwell Owusu Banahene and Issa Yusuf (both of Hasaacas).

The rest are Yusuf Chipsab (King Faisal), Bernard Don Bortey (Hearts), George Owu (Hasaacas), Anthony Obodia (Ajax Amsterdam), John Mensah (Switzerland), Michael Essien (France), Derrick Boateng (Greece), Razak Bimpong (Denmark), James Owusu-Ansah (Mexico), Ibrahim Attiku (Israel) and Frank Witner (Germany). - GNA