Veteran Ghanaian coach J.E Sarpong has strongly kicked against coach Charles Akonnor’s decision to include Chelsea defender Baba Rahman in the Black Stars squad to face Sudan in this month’s 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifier.
Baba Rahman was named among the twenty-three players invited by coach CK Akonnor for AFCON qualifier against Sudan.
Rahman has been relegated to the Chelsea FC U-23 side where he has made only two appearances.
The former Dreams FC and Asante Kotoko left-back was not included in Frank Lampard’s squad for the ongoing English Premier League campaign.
Reacting to Baba Rahman’s shocking call-up for the Sudan double-header, the former Ebusua Dwarfs gaffer said: “My problem with CK Akonnor’s selection has to do with that of Baba Rahman. Has Baba Rahman being consistent with his team. If it’s because he plays for the reserve side and has earned a call up then it’s a big No.”
Coach JE Sarpong believes if CK Akonnor wanted to invite the experienced players for the younger ones to understudy then he should have handed a call-up to Black Stars all-time leading topscorer Asamoah Gyan who has now joined Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities FC.
Squad list:
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates FC), Razak Abalora (Asante Kotoko SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen)
Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (Chelsea FC), Gideon Mensah (Vitoria de Guimaraes, Afful Harrison (Columbus Crew FC), Anang Benson (MSK Zilina), Djiku Alexander (Strasbourg FC), John Boye (FC Metz), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens FC), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo)
Midfielders: Partey Thomas (Arsenal FC), Baba Idrissu (RCD Mallorca), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning FC), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens FC)
Forwards/Wingers:
Andre Ayew (Swansea City FC), Tariq Fosu (Brentford), Samuel Owusu (Al-Ahli Jeddah) Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace FC), Caleb Ekuban (Trabzonspor), Jamie Leweling (Greuther Furth), John Antwi (Pyramids FC), Jeffery Schlupp (Crystal Palace)
