New Ghana Coach Chris Hughton Names First Squad Ahead of AFCON Qualifier Against Angola

• Chris Hughton has named his first Black Stars team
• Ghana will face Angola in a two-legged game in the AFCON qualifiers
• Joseph Paintsil is making a return to the team after missing the World Cup

New Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton has released his team for the double-header AFCON 2023 qualifier against Angola later this month.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion manager named a 25-man squad for the games.

Conspicuously missing is defender Baba Rahman while in-form KRC Genk star Joseph Paintsil makes a return to the team.

Goalkeeper Jojo Wollacot, who missed the World Cup due to injury, is also making a return to the squad.

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However, Hughton will have to do without three key players, Alidu Seidu, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Elisha Owusu, who are all out due to injuries.

The Black Stars will host Angola in the first leg on March 23, 2023, before travelling to Luanda for the second leg in three days tome.

The 25-man squad by Chris Hughton

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi (FC St. Gallen), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Joseph Wollacott (Charlton Athletic)

Defenders: Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion), Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Patrick Kpozo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Mohammed Salisu (Southampton FC), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg)

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Majeed Ashimeru (RSC Anderlecht), Abdul Salis Samed (Lens), Edmund Addo (Spartak Subotica)

Wingers: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), Joseph Painstil (Genk), Kamal Deen Sulemana (Southampton FC), Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer (Hamburger SV)

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Forwards: Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Andre Ayew (Nottingham Forest), Kamal Sowah (Club Brugge), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth)

Stephen Appiah backs Hughton to succeed

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former captain of the Black Stars, Stephen Appiah has called for support for new Ghana coach, Chris Hughton.

The former Juventus and Fenerbahçe midfielder believes the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion manager can return Ghana to its glory days.

The Black Stars have not won the Africa Cup of Nations in 41 years and Hughton has been left with the challenge of ending this AFCON drought.