Ghana axe key duo for Sudan - Alhassan, Frimpong included

Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic has handed debut calls to two youngsters while dropping Andre Ayew and goalkeeper Richard Kingson for next week's crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan.

Italy-based defender Massawudu Alhassan and Asante Kotoko right-back Yaw Frimpong were handed their first call-ups to the squad.

Norway-based midfielder Abu Mohammed is also in the squad to face to play the 8 October game in Khartoum.

Mohammed is also in line for his debut after failing to play in the abortive friendly against Nigeria last month when he was handed his first call.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie returns to the fold after one-year absence while goalkeeper Daniel Agyei is handed a recall after impressing at the All African Games.

Key players John Mensah, Isaac Vorsah, Adam Kwarasey, Derek Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu were all named in the squad as exclusively revealed by GHANAsoccernet.com on Wednesday.

Other players like Asamoah Gyan, Samuel Inkoom, Prince Tagoe and Albert Adomah and Sulley Muntari were named to face the Nile Crocodiles and Nigeria in a friendly three days later.

Ayew has been one of the Black Stars’ key players in over the past two years but the Marseille player is only returning from a groin and ankle injuries.

With Ghana facing a gruelling encounter in Khartoum on 8 October, throwing him at the deep end could spark fresh injury worries for the youngster.

Instead the meticulous Serbian coach Goran Stevanovic has opted for players who can fight for the entire duration of the game with speed without injury fears.

As a result, speedster Abeyie returns to the team after a one-year absence as the coach adds pacy players to the team.

True to his warning to inactive players, Stevanovic axed Kingson who has been without a club since being released Blackpool four months ago.

U23 goalkeeper Daniel Adjei returns to the fold to take Kingson’s place after impressing at the All African Games in Mozambique this month.

Captain John Mensah returns to the side after missing the two matches against Swaziland and Brazil this month. He has recovered from a thigh injury and has made some appearances for his club Lyon.

Ghana must secure a draw in the game to be played in the hot afternoon weather of Khartoum to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Adam Larsen Kwarasey (Stromgodest), Ernest Sowah (BerekumChelsea) Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals)

Defenders: Massawudu Alhassan (FC Genoa) John Paintsil (Leicester City), Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim), John Mensah (Olympique Lyon), Lee Addy (Red Star Belgrade), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Yaw Frimpong (Asante Kotoko)

Midfielders: Samuel Inkoom (FC Dnipro), Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyeman-Badu (Udinese), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan) Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem), Albert Adomah (Bristol City), Abu Mohammed (Stromgodest), Derek Boateng (FC Dnipro) Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Panathinaikos FC)

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Prince Tagoe (Bursaspor) Dominic Adiyiah (Karsiyaka).