Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has hit out at the technical handlers of the Black Stars following the omission of Majeed Ashimeru from the squad to face Nigeria.
The 36-year-old believes only Thomas Partey is better than Ashimeru and the latter should’ve been included in the squad.
On Tuesday morning, Ghana’s interim coach Otto Addo named a 27-man squad for the two-legged tie against the Super Eagles.
Whiles regular names such as Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus and Daniel Kofi Kyere were in the squad, Ashimeru was conspicuously missing.
The Anderlecht midfielder has been one of Ghana’s most consistent players in Europe this season, contributing three goals and two assists for the Belgian giants.
However, the likes of Edmund Addo, Baba Iddrisu and debutant Elisha Owusu were preferred ahead of the former WAFA star.
Reacting to this, Gyan slammed the technical handlers of the Black Stars over Ashimeru’s omission, insisting he is only second to Partey.
“This guy @MajeedAshimeru is the best midfielder in Ghana, after @Thomaspartey22 PERIOD. I have kept quiet on this but this nonsense must stop. Smh,” the ex-Sunderland striker fumed on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s squad to face Nigeria in the upcoming FIFA World Cup playoff game includes four players who have received their debut call-ups.
They are Club Brugge utility man Denis Odoi, KAA Gent midfielder Elisha Owusu, Hearts of Oak left-back Dennis Korsah and Ashdod FC defender Montari Kamaheni.
Highly-rated AS Roma teenager Felix Afena-Gyan, who turned down a call-up during the 2021 AFCON, has also returned for the two-legged tie against the Super Eagles.
The goalkeepers invited include Joojo Wollacott, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen and Richard Ofori, while the defenders are Andy Yiadom, Gideon Mensah, Alexander Djiku and Joseph Aidoo as the defenders invited.
In midfield, Addo has called up Baba Iddrisu, Edmund Addo, Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey and Daniel Kofi Kyereh.
The wingers invited are Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Osman Bukari, Joseph Paintsil and Yaw Yeboah.
Meanwhile, Jordan Ayew has also been named in the squad despite returning a positive COVID-19 test at Crystal Palace on Sunday, and he joins fellow forwards Afena-Gyan, Christopher Antwi-Adjei and Kwasi Wriedt as the invited strikers.
The first leg of the World Cup playoff game is scheduled for Friday, March 25, 2022, while the second leg will take place on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
Source: pulse
