In Ghana, it had looked like all attention was being focused on the World Cup in South Africa. The Cup of Nations in Angola did not appear to matter until Coach Milovan Rajevac named his final squad during the week and now the selection has become a major topic for discussion and people have realized that Angola is just around the corner.

The exclusion of Inter Milan player Sulley Muntari especially has raised a lot of eyebrows. The media is choked with hot debates on the pros and cons of the selection. Unlike skipper Stephen Appiah who is on the injury list, Sulley has no fitness problem and the speculation is that he has been axed for disciplinary reasons. You will recall that Sulley together with Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan were fined recently for failing to travel with the Black Stars for a friendly international in Angola.

The three players were fined $5000 each. As far as the football public is concerned, that was the end of the matter and all the three players, who are regulars in the national team, were expected to assemble for Angola.  Insiders however say Essien and Gyan are first time offenders whereas Sulley has a terrible disciplinary record and officials thought it was time he was brought to book. Former Sports Minister Muntaka Mubarak will testify to Sulley’s conduct.   Unfortunately, the debate on the exclusion of this controversial player from the team is threatening to distract attention from the preparations being made to present a formidable and cohesive side. It is my expectation that team spirit will continue to soar and youngsters like Dominic Adiyiah, Daniel Agyei, Samuel Inkoom, Andre Dede Ayew, Agyemang Badu and Lee Addy shone brilliantly in the World Youth tournament in Egypt, will blend beautifully with their seniors and help give Ghana her first Africa Cup triumph since 1982.

It has been made clear that the African Cup of Nations squad is not necessarily the same as the World Cup selection. There is a lot of room for changes and one would not be surprised to see Sulley Muntari in the World Cup squad if he turns over a new leaf. I am sure as a professional he won’t decline any invitation to return to camp. Ghana will play in the exciting Group B where they face neighbours Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo. This is strictly an ECOWAS affair. The only difference is that Ghana is the only English speaking country among the lot and it’s really going to be exciting.

GHANA’S FULL SQUAD. Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan, England), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Philemon McCarthy (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)
Defenders: John Paintsil(Fulham, England),Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany),Samuel Inkoom(Basel, Switzerland),Eric Addo (Roda C,Holland),Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), John Mensah(Sunderland, England),Lee Addy(Bechem Chelsea Ghana),Harrison Afful(Esperance, Tunisia)
Midfielders; Ibrahim Ayew(Zamalek),Michael Essien (Chelsea, England),Anthony Annan(Rosenborg,Norway),  Emmanuel Agyemang Badu(Sampdoria, Italy),Opoku Agyemang( Al Sadd, Qatar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese,Italy),Moussa Narry (Auxerre,France), Andre Ayew (Arles-Avagnon, France).
Attackers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Fredristad FK, Norway), Haminu Draman (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia).

FROM MY ARCHIVES

Dec 19th 1993: A three day national seminar on football development strategies and plan of action has ended at Winneba with a communiqué that Ghana soccer should turn professional the next season.