With their Premier League trio out of action, Ghana will turn to several MLS players to lead their roster in the upcoming friendly against the U.S. Men’s National Team.
With club objections leaving Ghana without West Ham’s Andre Ayew, Swansea City’s Jordan Ayew, Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey and Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey, a trio of Columbus Crew players and a few others from around the league headline the Black Stars squad. Crew defenders Harrison Afful and Jonathan Mensah are joined by midfielder Mohammed Abu on the roster, giving the team a strong Ohio presence.
Joining the Crew trio are a few other U.S.-based Ghanaians, including David Accam of the Chicago Fire, Gershon Koffie, on loan to the New England Revolution from Hammarby IF in Sweden, and former New York City FC and current Miami FC midfielder Kwadwo Poku. The U.S.-based players will be joined by a talented, European-based roster, with a few Ghanaian domestics included as well.
One notable inclusion among the worldwide roster is that of Liberty Professionals captain Samuel Sarfo. Before joining the Ghanaian Premier League team, Sarfo was a part-time police officer who’s duties included guarding his current team.
Ghana will take on Mexico on June 28 in Houston, TX before travelling to Hartford, CT to take on the USMNT on July 1st. Both dates fall outside the FIFA calendar, which was the source of the club objections forcing several withdrawals.
Here’s a look at the full roster: GHANA
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars), Addo Joseph (Aduana Stars)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew), Nicholas Opoku (Berekum Chelsea), Lumor Agbenyenu (Munich 1860, Germany), John Boye(Sivasspor, Turkey), Rashid Sumalia (Al Gharafa, Qatar), Jonathan Mensah(Columbus Crew, USA), Jerry Akaminko ( Eskiserhispor, Turkey), Samuel Sarfo (Liberty, Ghana)
Midfielders: Mohammed Abu (Columbus Crew, USA), Isaac Sackey(Alanyaspor, Turkey), Ofori Ebenezer (Stuttgart, Germany), Winful Kwaku Cobbinah (Hearts of Oak), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), Thomas Agyepong (NAC Breda, Holland), Kwadwo Poku (FC Miami),
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Alhi, UAE), Majeed Abdul Waris (Lorient FC, France), Raphael Dwamena (FC Zurich, Switzerland), David Accam (Chicago Fire), Gershon Koffie (New England Revolution).