Brighton & Hove Albion star Tariq Lamptey joins Arsenal anchor Thomas Partey in Ghana’s squad for the 2022 World Cup. So HITC Football has looked at Otto Addo’s best XI in Qatar.
The Black Stars looked to bolster their squad for the 22nd edition of the quadrennial FIFA tournament by recruiting eligible players who were born overseas. London-born Lamptey and Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams took up the offer in July and are now off to Qatar.
Chris Hughton oversaw Ghana’s recruitment as a technical advisor with the Ghana Football Association (GFA). The ex-Brighton boss told BBC Sport Africa after poaching London-born Antoine Semenyo of Bristol City: “We have to have the best team possible going forward.”
Ghana will compete in Group H with Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay at the World Cup in Qatar. They face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Selecao on November 24 before Son Heung-Min’s Taegeuk Warriors on the 28th. Their tie with Darwin Nunez’s La Celeste is on December 2.
The GFA named five Premier League stars when announcing Addo’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Lamptey is among those selected after switching his allegiances to the Black Stars after previously representing England at Under-18, 19, 20 and 21 levels.
Ghana have named five Premier League stars in Addo’s 2022 World Cup squad
Arsenal ace Partey will also hold a key role in Addo’s plans after securing Ghana’s place at the World Cup. The 29-year-old captained the Black Stars in a two-legged CAF third-round qualifying play-off with Nigeria. He also scored to advance on away goals after a 1-1 draw.
Goalkeepers: Manaf Nurudeen (KAS Eupen), Lawrence Ati Zigi (St Gallen), Danlad Ibrahim (Asante Kotoko)
Defenders: Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton), Abdul-Rahman Baba (Reading – on loan from Chelsea), Alidu Seidu (Clermont Foot), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Alexander Djiku (RC Strasbourg Alsace)
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Andre Ayew (Al-Sadd SC), Elisha Owusu (KAA Gent), Salis Abdul Samed (RC Lens), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax), Daniel Kofi Kyereh (SC Freiburg)
Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City), Daniel Barnieh Afriyie (Hearts of Oak), Kamal Sowah (Club Brugge), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Sporting Lisbon), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Stade Rennais)
So, with Addo naming his 26-man squad for the World Cup, HITC Football has taken a look at who joins Partey, Lamptey and Bilbao-born Williams in Ghana’s best XI for Qatar 2022…
Lawrence Ati Zigi (GK): Ghana have a lack of experience in their World Cup squad
Ghana have a lack of experience among the goalkeepers in their World Cup squad at Qatar 2022. Ati Zigi is the most-capped option among the three Addo is taking to the Middle East with 10 outings. Nurudeen has played just twice while Danlad is still yet to make his debut.
Tariq Lamptey (RB): Ghana stole a star from an area where England had lots of depth
Ghana stole a star from England in Lamptey as the Brighton speedster plays in a position where Gareth Southgate had lots of depth. The 22-year-old made his Black Stars debut in September rather than challenging Reece James, Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Daniel Amartey (CB): The Leicester star is a fixture of the Black Stars’ system
Amartey has been a fixture of the Black Stars’ system outside of injuries since his debut in January 2015. The Leicester star has enjoyed 45 caps from a possible 52 games. Addo has also awarded the 27-year-old the captaincy twice during 2022 as the leader of his backline.
Mohammed Salisu (CB): Addo gave the Southampton star his debut in September
Addo gave Salisu his debut for Ghana in September and will take the Southampton star to Qatar in solid form. The 23-year-old scored as the Black Stars beat Switzerland 2-0 in a pre-tournament friendly on Thursday. He has also started 14 Premier League fixtures this term.
Abdul-Rahman Baba (LB): Chelsea’s 2015 signing has more Ghana caps than games
Baba joined Chelsea from Augsburg in 2015 for £14m, up to £22m, yet has only played 23 games with the Blues. Instead, the 28-year-old is now on his seventh loan club in Reading. He has featured for Ghana more than twice as often as playing for Chelsea with 47 caps.
Thomas Partey (CDM): The Arsenal star secured Ghana’s spot at the 2022 World Cup
Partey has scored 13 goals over 40 caps for Ghana since the Arsenal ace made his debut in June 2016. The midfielder registered his latest effort in his most recent cap against Nigeria in March. While the Super Eagles equalised, it was enough to win the game on away goals.
Mohammed Kudus (CDM): Addo will hope to see the Ajax star create in Qatar
While Partey will hold a greater defensive presence in Qatar, Addo will want to see Kudus create chances for Ghana. The 18-cap talent has scored five and assisted three goals over the 22-year-old’s appearances. He has also scored 10 with Ajax over 21 games this season.
Kamaldeen Sulemana (RM): The Rennes winger has finally got an assist for Ghana
Sulemana finally recorded his maiden goal involvement for Ghana during their friendly win over Switzerland on Thursday. The Rennes winger had failed to score or create over his 12 previous caps. But the 20-year-old found Semenyo off the bench to secure their 2-0 result.
Inaki Williams (CAM): The Bilbao-born attacker had played one game for Spain
Williams had played one game for Spain’s senior side before switching his allegiance to the Black Stars. Vicente del Bosque handed the Bilbao-born attacker his bow in May 2016. But the 28-year-old never made another Roja side before getting his Ghana bow in September.
Andre Ayew (LM): The Al-Sadd winger is set to captain Ghana at Qatar 2022
Ayew is set to captain Ghana at the World Cup after making Addo’s squad for Qatar 2022. It is also the 32-year-old’s third World Cup after making the Black Stars’ sides in 2010 and 2014. They failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and failed to get out of Group G during 2014.
Jordan Ayew (ST): A second World Cup awaits the Crystal Palace star
Ayew joined his brother, Andre, in the Ghana squad following the 2010 World Cup, where the Black Stars had made the quarter-finals. The 31-year-old, born in Marseille, featured at his first World Cup in 2014. The Crystal Palace star also featured in their three ties in Brazil.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
