Akonnor hands late call-ups to replace Ofori and Lumor ahead of friendlies

Black Stars head coach, CK Akonnor, has announced changes in the earlier 23-man squad named for October’s international friendlies against Mali and Qatar.

The Black Stars are set to honor a clash against Mali on October 9 and then face the 2022 World cup host Qatar 3 days after in Turkey.

But due to travel challenges, Akonnor will have to do without the services of goalkeeper Richard Ofori, striker John Antwi, and left-back Lumor Agbenyenu, who failed to secure work visas to the European country.

As result, Akonnor has handed late call-ups to the Turkey-based duo of Caleb Ekuban and Joseph Paintsil.

It is a debut call up for  MKE Ankaragücü star Joseph Painstil, whiles Ekuban makes a return to the squad after his last appearance for the Black Stars at the 2019 AFCON where his missed penalty eliminated Ghana in the Round of 16 clash against Tunisia.

Elsewhere, Ajax midfielder, Kudus Mohammed, has reportedly picked up an injury denying him a feature for his club over the weekend.

But the GFA medical team insists he must travel to Turkey for them to do their own assessment on his injury.

The October matches are part of Ghana’s preparations ahead of the resumption of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers in November where Ghana take on Sudan in a double-header.

The friendlies will also be Akonnor’s first games in charge of the Black Stars since assuming duty in January.