Transitioning players into and from Ghana’s men’s senior national team has been a major criticism levelled at the various Black Stars coaches in recent years.
The coaches have been accused of sticking to the same players whether they are in form or not.
It appears, however, that since former Black Stars head coach Kwesi Appiah first took charge of the Black Stars, there’s been a gradual changing of the guard in the national team.
New Stars Boss, C.K Akonnor, named his first squad since replacing Appiah in charge for the doubleheader against Sudan later in March.
He mainly stuck to the players Appiah ended his tenure with, as 17 of his 23 picks were in Appiah’s team for the qualifiers against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe.
However if we look back even further to Appiah’s very first game in charge, the story is very different.
Of Kwesi Appiah’s initial 24-man squad for the games against Lesotho and Zambia seven years ago, only one player made it into Akonnor’s list.
Only Crystal Palace forward, Jordan Ayew, remains from the team Appiah trusted for his first outings as Ghana coach.
At the time, Jordan played in France for Marseille; he has made 58 appearances in total for the national side.
He was one of four forwards in the squad including Dominic Adiyiah, Ben Acheampong and Emmanuel Clottey.
The side also featured a number of familiar names, including keeper Adam Kwarasey, Samuel Inkoom, Isaac Vorsah, Anthony Annan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Sulley Muntari and a young chap called Christian Atsu, who made his debut and scored.
It also included Harrison Afful and John Boye who Akonnor says could be recalled should the need arise.
Take a look at both squads and the contracting selections from both coaches
Goalkeepers
Kwesi Appiah (2013) C.K Akonnor (2020)
Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway) Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United – South Africa)
Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals) Razak Abalora (Azam – Tanzania)
Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea) Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak – Ghana)
Defenders
Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine) Kwadwo Amoako (Ashgold – Ghana)
Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium) Andy Yiadom (Reading – England)
Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia) Gideon Mensah (Zulte Waregem – Belgium)
Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Chelsea) Nicholas Opoku (Amiens – France)
John Boye (Rennes, France) Habib Mohammed (Asante Kotoko – Ghana)
Lee Addy (Dalian Aerbin, China) Kasim Nuhu (Fortuna Düsseldorf – Germany)
Daniel Addo (Zorya Luhansk, Ukraine) Joseph Aidoo (Celta de Vigo – Spain)
Jerry Akaminko (Manisaspor, Turkey)
Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany).
Midfielders
Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands) Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning – China)
Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine) Alfred Duncan (Fiorentina – Italy)
Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy) Baba Iddrisu (RCD Mallorca – Spain)
Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France) Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid – Spain)
Richard Mpong (Medema) Kudus Mohammed (FC Nordsjaelland – Denmark)
Christian Atsu (Rio Ave, Portugal) Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha FC – Saudi Arabia)
Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy) Christopher Antwi (Paderborn – Germany)
Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy).
Forwards
Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France) Eugene Ansah (Hapoel Ra’anana – Israel)
Dominic Adiyiah (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine) Tariqe Fosu (Brentford FC – England)
Ben Acheampong (Kotoko) Andre Ayew (Swansea City – England)
Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea) Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Red Star Belgrade – Serbia)
N/A Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace – England)
N/A Yahaya Mohammed (Aduana Stars – Ghana)
by Edwin Kwakofi
