Ghana to take depleted squad to South Africa for World Cup qualifiers

Ghana coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor will be without some of his key players for the clash against South Africa on September 6 in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Black Stars players based in the United Kingdom and Germany will not be able to make the trip to South Africa for the game due to COVID-19 quarantine restrictions.

Players will have to quarantine up to 10 days upon return to their respective clubs should they travel to South Africa for the second game in Group G of the World Cup qualifiers.

Some European teams released players for the World Cup qualifiers on the condition that they will not travel to South Africa which is on the coronavirus red list of the UK and Germany.

Thus Ghana coach CK Akonnor will be without five of his players in his starting 11 against Ethiopia for the South Africa game on Monday, September 6.

Andy Yiadom (Reading), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace), Daniel Kofi Kyereh (St. Pauli) and Braydon Manu will not be available for the game.

The Black Stars coach will have to rely on some local-based players invited to the squad for the doubleheader.

Hearts of Oak forward Daniel Afriyie Barnie, Fatawu Mohammed, Samuel Abbey-Quarshie, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Philemon Baffour might get the opportunity to make their debut against the Bafana Bafana.

Ghana currently tops Group G with three points after beating Ethiopia in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday.

South Africa picked a point away against Zimbabwe in the other opening game.