Ghana
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan).
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke 04), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux).
Best Ever Finish: Quarterfinals (2010)
Captain: Asamoah Gyan
Manager: Akwasi Appiah
The Black Stars looked as though they may have to negotiate a tricky play-off tie to take their place at the 2014 World Cup. They were pitted against Egypt in what looked the tightest of all the African play-off games, but Ghana blitzed Bob Bradley’s side 6-1 in the first leg and in doing so, all but secured their ticket to Brazil.
It was a performance and a score-line that made people sit up and take note of this side. And Ghana certainly have some players capable of doing some real damage in Brazil.
Particularly in midfield, where they have a glut of excellent options. Michael Essien is the most familiar of these names and he always seems to perform when pulling on the Ghanian national shirt. He’s ably supported by the likes of Juventus’ Kwadwo Asamoah, Milan’s Sulley Muntari and FC Schalke’s Kevin-Prince Boateng; three players who have played and performed well on some of Europe’s biggest stages in their careers to date.
There are some excellent young players coming through too. The Ayew brothers are developing well, whilst Christian Atsu – now a Chelsea player – is looking a shrewd loan signing for Vitesse Arnhem, assisting them greatly with their unexpected title challenge in the Eridivisie.
So as you can see, the midfield is in excellent order. But it must be said, the team is lacking in pretty much every other area of the pitch. They have struggled to settle on a goalkeeper and regular back-four, whereas up-front Ghana are still somewhat worryingly reliant their captain Asamoah Gyan, although the emergence of the Abdul Waris is encouraging.
Getting out of the group stage will be difficult for the Black Stars, where they face Germany, Portugal and the United States. Matching their quarter-final appearance from four years ago would be a stunning effort.
