Black Stars play Qatar on October 12

Ghana’s Black Stars is set to host Qatar in a friendly game on Monday, October 12 in Antalya, Turkey.

The 2022 World Cup host, comes in to replace Equatorial Guinea who decided to opt-out of a friendly against Ghana due to travel restrictions.

The Black Stars were scheduled to play Mali on Friday, October 9, and host Equatorial Guinea on the 12th of October but the Nzalang Nacional pulled out of the game, citing new travel restrictions in their country due to coronavirus.

Qatar, who have a game against India on October 8, will take on Ghana four days later.

The two countries will use the friendly to prepare for their respective international competitions in November.

The Black Stars have an Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan in November and these two matches in Turkey would help coach Akonnor assess his team properly before the crucial encounter.

Black Stars coach Akonnor named his 23-man squad recently, a list which saw nine players being dropped from his initial list announced in March for the doubleheader against Sudan which was eventually postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the players dropped are Christopher Antwi (Paderborn – Germany), Tariq Fosu (Brentford FC – England), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning – China), Alfred Duncan (Fiorentina – Italy), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Red Star Belgrade – Serbia), Yahaya Mohammed (Aduana Stars – Ghana), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak – Ghana), Kwadwo Amoako (Ashgold – Ghana), and Andy Yiadom (Reading – England).

Akonnor handed debuts to Benson Anang, Alexander Djiku, John Antwi, Emmanuel Lomotey, Kamal Deen, and Yakubu Mohammed who plays for Azam FC in his new selection.

Ghana currently tops Group F with 6 points following victories against South Africa in Cape Coast and Sao Tome and Principe in November 2019.

Squad list:

Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Maritzburg), Richard Ati Zigi (St. Gallen), Razak Abalora (Unattached)

Full Backs: Benson Anang (Zilina FC), Lumor Agbenyenu (Sporting Club), Yakubu Mohammed (Azam FC), Gideon Mensah (Vitoria de Guimaraes)

Centre Backs: Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Joseph Aidoo (Celta de Vigo), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens), Kassim Nuhu (Hoffenheim)

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens), Bernard Mensah (Besiktas), Baba Iddrisu (RCD Mallorca)

Attackers/Wingers: Andre Ayew (Swansea), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), John Antwi (Pyramids FC), Eugene Ansah (Hapoel Shmona), Jefferey Schlupp (Crystal Palace), Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha FC), Kamal Deen (Nordsjaelland SC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax SC)