Black Stars coach Charles C.K Akonnor will name his 23-man squad out of the 30 players he assembled for Friday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia.

With a number of experienced players available for the game coach Akonnor is set to make a number decisions with new arrivals to the team.

Daniel Amartey, Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew, Richard Ofori, Wakaso Mubarak, Baba Rahman and Jonathan Mensah are all available to be in the matchday squad.

With the 7 experienced players’ places in the squad most likely confirmed, there are 16 places available for grabs.

The current form of Stade de Rennais attacking midfielder Kamaldeen Sulemana, Baba Iddrisu, Samuel Owusu, Andy Yiadom, Gideon Mensah, Emmanuel Gyasi, Kwame Opoku and Emmanuel Lomotey expected to propel them into the matchday squad.

There are 9 places available for 15 players which means 6 players will be dropped for the game tonight.

Below are the 5 candidates facing the drop from the matchday squad.

1. Fatawu Mohammed – Hearts of Oak

The 29-year-old right-back received a late call up to join the squad after Benson Anang dropped out of the squad. However with the availability of Reading defender Andy Kyere Yiadom and Dreams FC’s Philimon Baffour in the squad the Hearts of Oak defender might not make the squad for the game.

2. Samuel Abbey-Ashie Quaye – Great Olympics

The Great Olympics left-back was among the four players who received late call ups from the Black Stars technical team. There is Gideon Mensah and Baba Rahman available at the position and he is likely to be dropped from the squad though the exercise must be a very vital one for the youngster.

3. Abdul Manaf Nurudeen – KAS Eupen

The Aspire Academy graduate received the call up from C.K Akonnor following his fine form for Eupen in the Belgian top-flight league. Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Richard Ofori and home-based goalkeeper Richard Attah are favourites to be selected to be on the bench.

4. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku – Steadfast FC

Issahaku remains one of the most promising players available for Akonnor but with the pool of talents available in offensive midfield it is likely he might not make the cut.

5. Daniel Afriyie Barnieh – Hearts of Oak

Judging from the last training session of Akonnor the Hearts of Oak attacker is not expected to play any part of the Ethiopia game is also likely to be dropped from the squad that will travel to South Africa to face the Bafana Bafana.

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