[ad_1]
Ghana return to the World Cup this year after failing to qualify four years ago in Russia.
Before that, they had competed at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 editions of the competition.
Head coach Otto Addo only took charge of Ghana in February of this year, ahead of their CAF World Cup play-off against Nigeria. The team had previously topped their qualification group, finishing ahead of South Africa by virtue of their head-to-head record.
Addo guided Ghana to a goalless home draw in the first leg, with a 1-1 draw in Nigeria in the second leg seeing them qualify for the World Cup by winning the tie on away goals.
This year, Ghana are in Group H alongside Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea. Th African side will come up against Uruguay for the first time since their infamous 2010 World Cup quarter-final, where Luis Suarez’s handball on the line stopped a certain goal for Ghana that would have seen them win the match and progress to the next round. In the end, Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting spot-kick and Ghana lost in the penalty shootout that followed.
Ghana also faced Portugal in the 2014 group stage. Portugal won that final group match 2-1, a result which stopped Ghana from advancing to the round of 16.
Ghana’s squad contains several big names from European club football, such as Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus, as well as a few players who have recently switched nationality, including Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey and Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams.
GO DEEPER
Ghana team guide: A strong team on paper, but can they find a way to gel?
Ghana’s World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko) Lawrence Ati Zigi (St Gallen).
Defenders: Denis Odoi (Fulham), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton), Alidu Seidu (Clermont), Daniel Amartey (Leicester), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) Abdul-Rahman Baba (Reading) Gideon Mensah (Auxerre).
Midfielders: Andre Ayew (Al-Sadd) Thomas Partey (Arsenal) Elisha Owusu (Gent), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax), Daniel Kofi Kyereh (Freiburg).
Forwards: Daniel Barnieh Afriyie (Hearts of Oak), Kamal Sowah (Club Brugge), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting Lisbon), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes).
- Thursday, November 24: Portugal 3-2 Ghana
- Monday, November 28: South Korea vs Ghana
- Friday, December 2: Ghana vs Uruguay
Ghana squad analysis
Ghana’s fourth World Cup appearance is their most difficult to predict. A team in transition and struggling for identity, with a coach unsure whether he wants to stay for the long haul… this could be the experience of a lifetime, or one everyone involved wants to forget in a hurry.
For a full analysis of their chances in Qatar, click here.
Meet The Athletic’s guest writers for the World Cup
GO DEEPER
World Cup provisional squads explained
(Photo: DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)
[ad_2]
