Three home-based players have been included in the Black Stars final 27-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament to be staged in Ivory Coast this month.
Out of the eleven players named in the 55-man provisional squad, only three players were included in the final squad released by Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton on Monday morning.
Asante Kotoko deputy captain Richmond Lamptey joins Medeama duo of Jonathan Sowah and Abdul Fatawu Hamidu as home-based players to have made the cut.
Lamptey’s impressive performance for Kotoko this season did not go unnoticed, making the final Black Stars for the prestigious tournament.
The deputy Kotoko captain has been instrumental for the Porcupine Warriors this campaign, delivering five assists in 12 appearances so far to inspire the club to go six matches unbeaten streak.
The Medeama duo have been regular in the Black Stars in recent time due to their swashbuckling performance in the local scene and the Africa campaign.
Ghana are drawn in Group B, where they will face record-winners Egypt, Mozambique, and Cape Verde in the group phase.
The West Africa powerhouse have a history of success in the AFCON, having won the title four times, most recently in 1982. However, they have experienced defeat in three finals since then, including losses to Ivory Coast in 1992 on penalties and Egypt in 2010, as well as a repeat defeat to Ivory Coast in 2015.
The tournament is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, January 13 through to February 11, 2024.