The Serbian has opted to leave behind the Porcupine Warriors captain amid calls by some members of the management committee to add him
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has announced his 30-man provisional squad for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon in January.
Interestingly, Ismail Abdul Ganiu who has been ever present in the Black Stars squad during the qualifiers has been dropped.
Although, the Black Stars management committee members were reported to have argued that Ganiu must be selected, however, Milovan rejected such suggestions insisting that he is not the type of central defender he wants.
As a result, Jonathan Mensah, Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku and Mumin Abubakar were selected.
Interestingly, Dreams FC full back Philimon Baffour who has failed to make a single appearance for the Black Stars despite having several call ups was selected amid protests by Ghanaians.
Ghana are expected to play a yet to named club side on Tuesday, December 28, before taking on one of the Africa Cup of Nations qualified teams on Friday, January 1, 2022 in another friendly.
The team will wrap up their test matches against African Champions Algeria on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
The Black Stars will depart Doha for Yaoundé on Friday, January 7, 2022 to take on the rest of Africa at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
GHANA SCHEDULE IN DOHA – QATAR
Team open camp on December 22, 2021
First Friendly match against a club side – December 28, 2021
Second friendly match against AFCON bound country – January 1, 2022
Third friendly against Algeria – January 5, 2022
Departure to Cameroon – January 7, 2022
Submission of final squad – December 30, 2021,” the statement added.
Ghana last won the Afcon in 1982 but have been in final in 1992, 2010 and 2015.
Goalkeepers:
Goalkeepers: Joseph Wollacott (Swindon Town), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St.Gallen), Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak)
Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC), Philemon Baffour (Dreams FC), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), Gideon Mensah (Girondins Bordeaux), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew), Abdul Mumin (Victoria Guimares)
Midfielders: Baba Idrissu (Real Mallorca), Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen F.C), Edmund Addo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Daniel Kofi Kyere (FC St. Pauli), David Abagna (RTU), Abdul Samed Salis (Clermont Foot)
Wingers: Andre Ayew (Al Sadd), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Dreams FC), Kamal Deen Sulemana (Rennes), Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha)
Strikers: Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem), Benjamin Tetteh (Yeni Malatyaspor), Felix Afena Gyan (AS Roma), Maxwell Abbey Quaye (Great Olympics), Joseph Painstil (Genk)