Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, and Inaki Williams were notable absences as the Black Stars held their first training session on Tuesday ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
The team trained at the Dr Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese, following the technical team’s decision to reject the Baba Yara Stadium due to its unfavourable pitch.
According to the Ghana FA website, 24 players participated in the training session, but goalkeeper Richard Ofori was not listed among them. This suggests that he, along with Kudus, Ayew, and Williams, has yet to join the team’s camp.
Ghana coach Chris Hughton revealed that Mohammed Kudus is nursing a slight injury and will require some time to recover before joining the team. Inaki Williams, meanwhile, is suffering from an illness and needs rest, according to his Spanish club Athletic Bilbao. Jordan Ayew is expected to arrive on Wednesday, after being involved in a Premier League match for Crystal Palace last Saturday.
The training camp provides a critical opportunity for the Black Stars to fine-tune their strategies and foster team cohesion ahead of the AFCON, which begins on January 13, 2024. Black Stars will play a friendly against Namibia, who are also camping in Ghana for the AFCON, on January 8.
Black Stars face stiff competition in Group B against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique, with their first match scheduled for January, 14 against Cape Verde in Abidjan.
The following players are currently in camp per the Ghana FA website:
- Joseph Wollacott
- Lawrence Ati-Zigi
- Alidu Seidu
- Denis Odoi
- Kingsley Schindler
- Gideon Mensah
- Abdul Fatawu Hamidu
- Nicholas Opoku
- Daniel Amartey
- Salisu Mohammed
- Alexander Djiku
- Baba Iddrisu
- Elisha Owusu
- Abdul Samed Salis
- Richmond Lamptey
- Majeed Ashimeru
- Andre Ayew
- Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer
- Osman Bukari
- Joseph Painstil
- Ernest Nuamah
- Antoine Semenyo
- Jonathan Sowah