Baba Rahman and Fatawu Issahaku are expected to be excluded from Ghana’s final squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Rahman has featured in every major tournament for Ghana since the 2015 AFCON.
The left-back, who was previously included in the final squad, communicated with the technical team he wanted to opt out of the tournament in Ivory Coast.
The 29-year-old hasn’t been called up to the Black Stars since the AFCON qualifier against Central Africa Republic in September – a game in which he was booed by Ghanaians.
No matter how bad Baba Rahman has been, being booed by your home fans isn’t healthy at all.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) September 7, 2023
Rahman has a half-century of appearances for the Black Stars and in his absence, Hamidu Abdul Fatawu of Medeama is expected to be called.
Issahaku has been in immense form for Leicester City and prefers to stay with the Foxes during the tournament.
The winger needs to play in seven more games for the Championship side to ensure that his loan move becomes permanent.
The 19-year-old would like to achieve that as early as possible whilst also contributing to Leicester gaining promotion to the Premier League.
Issahaku is still yet to start a game under Chris Hughton with his last Ghana start coming 14 months ago. The two times the winger has been called by the 64-year-old coach, he was moved from the standby list to the main squad due to injuries.
The feeling is Fatawu is young and will have a lot more AFCONs so it’s better he sorts out his long-term future at Leicester by being signed permanently.
Hughton will announce his final squad on Monday.
Ghana are in group B for the AFCON alongside Egypt, Cape Verde and Mozambique.