The Black Stars touched down in Johannesburg from Accra on Saturday evening without these seven players due to Covid-19 restrictions
Ghana coach Charles Kwablah Akonnor will have to stick to his plan B when Black Stars face South Africa on Monday in the second game in Group G of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in Johannesburg.
The Black Stars narrowly defeated Ethiopia 1-0 in the opening game on Friday in Cape Coast thanks to Wakaso Mubarak’s long range effort that went through the hands of goalkeeper Tekelemariam Shanko.
However, Akonnor will have to alter his squad that started the game against Ethiopia because players who ply their trade in England and Germany cannot travel to South Africa. This is because the country has been marked red as one of the countries in Africa with serious Covid-19 cases.
As a result, defender Daniel Amartey, Abdul Baba Rahman, Andy Yiadom, Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp who started the game against Ethiopia will not travel with the rest of the team. Schlupp, in particular, picked up a hamstring injury and was substituted in the game will need further assessment before he leaves to his club Crystal Palace.
The others to be excused include Daniel Kofi Kyere who marked his debut against Ethiopia aster coming on as a first half substitute and Stade Rennes midfielder Kamaldeen Sulemana.
This means that Akonnor will have to give chance to some of the local players called into the team like Hearts of Oak trio of goalkeeper Richard Attah, defender Fatawu Mohammed and midfielder Afriyie Barnieh and Asante Kotoko defender Abdul Ganiu Ismail.
Former Asante Kotoko striker Kwame Opoku who currently play for USM Alger in Algeria could partner Andre Ayew upfront in the absence of Jordan Ayew, while Spezia Calcio winger Emmanuel Gyasi may see some game time after missing the game on Friday.
Yaw Yeboah could start against South Africa after his inspiring performance when he came on against the Walias Antelopes.
The Black Stars currently top Group G with three points, two points above South Africa after the latter shared the spoils goalless with Zimbabwe in their opening game.
The Black Stars trained at the FNB Sports Stadium on Saturday with 25 players of which 23 will be selected for the game.
