Schlupp, Acquah and Accam surprise call-ups in Ghana 26-man provisional squad; No Vorsah

By Ing. George-Patrick Bediaku (Follow George-Patrick on Twitter @gpbediaku)

Coach Kwesi Appiah has named a 26-man provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup and there have been a number of surprise gate-crashers.

Coach Appiah included Leicester City’s Jeffrey Schlupp at left-back, Parma’s Afriyie Acquah in central midfield and Helsingborg’s David Titi Accam as a left midfielder.

The list which was announced at a press conference held at the GFA Headquarters on Monday afternoon did not include Isaac Vorsah and Anthony Annan, whose names were touted as possible returnees to add experience to the team.

The Black Stars will leave for Miami on June 1 for Miami to round up their preparations and face South Korea at the Sun Life Stadium on June 9 and leave for Brazil the next day.

Team Ghana is expected to arrive and train in Maceio on June 11, five days before the opening group game with the U.S.A.

Here is the full 26-man list to be trimmed down to 23 after the Netherlands clash.

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey, Fatau Dauda, Stephen Adams

Right-backs: Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare

Left-backs: Afful Harrison, Jeffrey Schlupp

Central midfielders: John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Rashid Sumaila, Akaminko Jerry

Central midfielders: Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Afriyie Acquah

Right midfielders: Christian Atsu, Albert Adomah

Left midfielders: Andre Ayew, Mubarak Wakaso, David Accam

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Majeed Abdul Waris, Jordan Ayew

 

Ghanaian Players Abroad – WEEKDAY WRAP – 5 – 8 May: Gyan hits 100 goals; Sumaila wins PSL, Akaminko loses Turkish Cup; Assifuah, Bukari on target

By Ing. George-Patrick Bediaku (Follow on Twitter @gpbediaku)

 

This week was another eventful one with many Ghanaians in action for their various teams.

Asamoah Gyan grabbed the headlines when he scored his 100th goal since moving to the UAE. He achieved this fete in 92 games in all competitions. He has come under the kosh for his choice of a ‘not-so-competitive’ league. But this goal haul, coupled with the titles won and the records he’s broken is definitely impressive.

Rashid Sumaila’s Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the South African PSL in his first season. Congrats!

But not so good news for Jerry Akaminko as his side, Eskisehirspor, lost out on the Turkish Cup with a 0-1 loss to Didier Drogba’s Galatasaray.

On a dark note, goal machine John Antwi was involved in a fiery situation that saw him sent off.

Ebenezer Assifuah-Inkoom and Sadat Bukari both scored for FC Sion and Astra Giurgiu respectively.

Another packed, comprehensive round up for you. Enjoy!

 

Monday, May 5.

Francis Narh played the entire game as Baník Ostrava went away to beat Sigma Olomouc 3-2.

John Antwi was red-carded in what has been described as a ‘Wrestling Match’ as Ismaily drew 0-0 away with Haras El Hodood.

Dennis Appiah played the entire game as Caen went away to beat Brest 1-0.

Enock Kofi Adu played the entire game as 10-man Stabæk lost 0-3 at home to Vålerenga.

Godsway Donyoh played the entire game as Falkenberg drew 1-1 at home with Gefle.

Ebenezer Ofori played 70 minutes as AIK hosted and beat David Accam’s Helsingborg 1-0, with Accam (90 mins) grabbing his side’s goal.

 

Tuesday, May 6.

Raman Chibsah played the entire game as Sassuolo went away to beat Fiorentina.

Asamoah Gyan scored the first goal as Al Ain beat Al Jazira 2-1 away in their first leg AFC Champions League fixture.

John Arwuah played 56 minutes as AmaZulu beat relegated Golden Arrows 1-0 at home.

Mohammed Awal (first 45 mins) and Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi (62 mins) both helped Maritzburg United to a 1-0 away win over Wits University.

Edwin Gyimah played the entire game as SuperSport United lost 0-3 away to Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won the PSL league. Rashid Sumaila was an unused sub for the new league champions.

Ebenezer Assifuah-Inkoom scored the winner as FC Sion beat Zürich 1-0 at home.

 

Wednesday, May 7.

John Boye played the entire game as Rennes went away to beat leaders PSG 2-1.

Christian Atsu’s 13th-minute goal was disallowed as Vitesse lost 0-1 away to Groningen in the first leg of the final stage tie.

Carlos Ohene was replaced by Ebo Andoh in the 62nd minute as AEL Limassol lost 0-1 at home to Apollon Limassol.

Adam Kwarasey and Mohammed Abu’s Strømsgodset went away to beat Ørn Horten 2-1 after extra time in the NM Cupen.

Seidu Yahaya played the entire game, Sadat Bukari came on in the 55th min to score the opener as Astra Giurgiu beat Sageata Navodari 2-0 at home.

Nasiru Mohammed played the first 45 minutes as BK Hacken beat Brommapojkarna 3-1 at home.

Daniel Amartey played the entire game, Yussif Chibsah came on in the 53rd min as Djurgården drew 0-0 at home with Kalmar.

Mohammed Abubakari played the entire game as Åtvidaberg lost 1-2 away at Norrköping.

Samuel Afum came on in the 87th minute as Young Boys drew 2-2 at home with Aarau.

Jerry Akaminko (90 mins) lost out on the Turkish Cup as Eskisehirspor were beaten 1-0 by Drogba’s Galatasaray.

 

Thursday, May 8.

Francis Dickoh played the entire game as Midtjylland lost 1-3 away at Brøndby.

Gideon Baah played the entire game as HJK won it late (97th min), beating Mariehamn 1-0 at home.

Thomas Agyiri played the entire game as TPS (Turku Palloseura) lost 1-4 away at leaders MYPA (Myllykosken Pallo).

King Osei Gyan played the entire game as bottom Halmstad drew 2-2 at home with Ebenezer Ofori’s (82 mins) AIK.

Godsway Donyoh was subbed out in the 90+4th min as Falkenberg drew 0-0 away at Örebro. Sam Mensah was unused for the home side.

David Accam played the entire game as Helsingborg lost 0-1 at home to leaders Malmö FF.

Benjamin Fadi played 68 minutes as Värnamo beat Assyriska 1-0 at home.

Dominc Oduro played 69 minutes as Columbus Crew were beaten 1-0 away at Houston Dynamo.

 

 

Ghanaian Players Abroad – WEEKDAY WRAP – 7-10 April, 2014: Gyan grabs hat-trick, passes 90 goal mark

By Ing. George-Patrick Bediaku (Follow on Twitter @gpbediaku)

 

This week was very good for our Ghanaian stars and top-liner among them was Al Ain’s Asamoah Gyan. The cult hero of the oil-rich club – who recently purchased a $402,000 Rolls Royce – grabbed a hat-trick, making it his second of the season and hist fourth overall since moving to the UAE from Sunderland in September 2011. He leads the goal king race with 24 goals, four goals shy of his next contender, and has now scored 34 goals in 34 games this season alone.

Gyan’s overall stats show that he has now scored 93 goals in 87 games. People argue that he plays in a ‘not so competitive’ league. ‘Low’ league or not, his goal haul is definitely impressive. No wonder the Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed-owned Al Ain do not hesitate to fork out the reported $100,000 per week pay check for the Ghana Black Stars captain.

In other good news, a busy Kwadwo Asamoah – who played two games in four days – helped Juventus to progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they face Benfica.

Here’s the full comprehensive wrap. Enjoy!

 

Monday, April 7

Kwadwo Asamoah played the entire game as Juventus beat Alfred Duncan’s Livorno 2-0 at home. Duncan played the entire game.

Abdul Baba Rahman came on in the 61st minute as 2nd-placed Greuther Fürth drew 0-0 away with Ingolstadt.

Mohammed Abubakari scored the opener as Åtvidaberg drew 2-2 away with Kalmar.

 

Tuesday, April 8

Albert Adomah played the entire game as Middlesbrough beat Birmingham City 3-1 at home.

Sam Mensah was in action for his new side Örebro, who beat Kwame Bonsu’s (78 minutes) Mjällby 1-0 at home.

 

Wednesday, April 9

Edwin Gyimah played the entire game as SuperSport United went away to beat Free State Stars 2-1. Daniel Agyei was on the hosts’ bench.

Rashid Sumaila played the entire game as leaders Mamelodi Sundowns beat Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 at home. 40th-minute yellow card.

Mohammed Awal (90 mins) and Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi (65 mins) helped Maritzburg United to a 1-1 away draw with Polokwane City.

Harrison Afful played the entire game as runaway leaders Esperance de Tunis drew 1-1 away with LPTA Tozeur.

 

Kwadwo Asamoah played the entire game and helped Juventus to a 2-1 home victory against Lyon, powering them into the Europa
League semi-finals on a 3-1 aggregate.

Asamoah Gyan grabbed another hat-trick as Al Ain went away and thrashed Al Shaab 5-0. This marks the top scorer’s 24th season goal. This was also his second hat-trick of the season and his 4th overall, since his move three years ago. Gyan scored 22 goals in his first season and 31 in his second.