Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has welcomed new players to the team ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Six players switched nationalities to represent Ghana at international level in June. Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey, Inaki Williams of Athletic Club and German-born trio Stephan Ambrosius, Ransford Konigsdorffer and Patric Pfeiffer have all agreed to play for Ghana.
Southampton star Mohammed Salisu also confirmed his decision to represent Ghana last month.
Addressing the Ghana FA delegation led by Kurt Okraku at the office of the Presidency, Nana Akufo-Addo said, “We should have no grounds for complains, the important thing is that, all of us as a nation, that we give maximum support to our young people to go and give of their best and if they able to give off their best they will far because Ghanaian football is among the best in the World”
“Of course, with the usual luck that you need in football, instead of the thing hitting the bar, it goes in. so we have to pray that the good Lord favours us on such occasions and if it does, I have a lot of confidence about the quality of the people that has been selected”
“I’m happy that many of the diaspora players under your leadership are being brought in as much as possible those who have the heart for the country are being brought to come and play. I think you’ve done well and going on, go out to search for those interested to play for the country. Our bid is to create the condition for them to excel and that’s what we have to do”
The Black Stars will begin preparations in the first week of November, but a full house is expected in the second week, when all leagues will draw to a halt.
Ghana is scheduled to play one pre-World Cup match, against Switzerland, on November 17.
The West African powerhouse will kick off on November 24 with a crucial match against Group H favourites Portugal.
The Black Stars will then play South Korea on November 28 and Uruguay in their final group match on December 2.