‘Unhappy’ Afena Gyan rejects Black Meteors call-up for U23 Afcon qualifier

March 23, 2023 Leave a comment

Coach Ibrahim Tanko welcomed the 20-year-old ahead of the Black Meteors’ crucial two-leg U23 AFCON qualifier against Algeria.
However, despite the Ghana Football Association submitting all travel requirements to his club, the US Cremonese forward is alleged to have declined the invitation.

Afena-Gyan was a member of the Black Stars squad that defeated Nigeria in the playoffs to earn a spot in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

As Ghana defeated the Super Eagles on away goals, the former AS Roma star started both home and away games.

After scoring his first international goal in a 3-0 win over Madagascar in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, he was invited back for the pre-World Cup friendly against Brazil.

Afena-Gyan, on the other hand, was left out of Ghana’s final roster for the tournament in Qatar, as well as Chris Hughton’s 25-man squad for the forthcoming double-header AFCON qualifier against Angola.

According to reports, the kid, who has scored two goals for Cremonese this season, is still reeling from his World Cup snub, which is why he turned down the Black Meteors call-up.

Meanwhile, foreign-based players Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh have been invited to Ghana’s U23s for the qualifiers against Algeria.

Coach Ibrahim Tanko has called up eight foreign-based players, including in-form Nordsjaelland midfielder Ernest Nuamah, as the Black Meteors prepare to face the North Africans over two games.

Ghana will play Algeria in Annaba on Friday, March 24, before hosting Algeria at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday, March 28.

The victor of the two-leg match will advance to the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.