Hearts of Oak drop Benjamin Afutu from CAF Champions League squad

Ghana Premier League champions Hearts of Oak have decided on a 30-man squad for their upcoming CAF Champions League campaign which excludes Benjamin Afutu Kotey.

The squad put up by the technical team headed by Coach Samuel Boadu for the preliminary round of the competition is without their key midfielder.

This comes after Afutu reportedly refused to renew his contract with the club despite his current contract expiring in less than a month.

According to the report, the midfielder did not like the terms and declined, forcing the club to submit the names of available players to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) before the August 15 deadline.

Afutu played a pivotal role for Hearts in their double triumph at end of the 2020/2021 season where they won the Ghana Premier League and the FA Cup.

The 25-year-old made 29 appearances for the Phobians in the Ghanaian top-flight and scored five times in the process.

The Phobians are representing Ghana at the continental club competition after being crowned champions of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League season.

Full squad below:

Goalkeepers:

Richard Attah

Richmond Ayi

Ben Mensah

Richard Baidoo

Defenders:

Fatawu Mohammed

Mohammed Alhassan

Nuru Sulley

James Sewornu

Caleb Amankwah

Sumaila Larry

Raddy Ovouka

Robert Addo Sowah

William Denkyi

Midfielders:

Emmanuel Nettey

Ansah Botchway

Gladson Awako

Patrick Razak

Ibrahim Salifu

Salim Adams

Michelle Sarpong

Enock Esubonteng

Strikers:

Victor Aidoo

Razak Ali

Isaac Mensah

Kwadwo Obeng Jnr.

Afriyie Barnieh

Kofi Kordzi

Suraj Seidu

Agyenim Boateng

Issah Kakuh