Hughton shocks Ghana with controversial squad selection – Rahman and Issahaku out!

Chris Hughton, the coach of the Ghanaian national team, has raised eyebrows with his latest squad selection for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola. Reading left-back Baba Abdul Rahman and Sporting Lisbon youngster Fatawu Issahaku, who were both expected to make the cut, were surprisingly dropped from the squad.

Baba Rahman, who has played in six of Ghana’s last seven games, was left out due to an injury.

However, his exclusion has raised questions as he played all three matches at the 2022 World Cup and was expected to be a key player in the upcoming qualifiers.

On the other hand, Fatawu Issahaku’s exclusion has come as a surprise to many. The 17-year-old forward was on the verge of restoring his form after scoring a hattrick for Sporting Lisbon U19 in the UEFA Youth League last week. Many fans and experts were hoping to see him in action in the upcoming fixtures.

Instead, the coach has included Sheriff Tiraspol player Patrick Kpozo as the only new name in the squad. Kpozo is expected to fill the void left by Baba Rahman.

Furthermore, the squad doesn’t include any local-based players, which is a departure from the previous squad.

Ibrahim Danlad failed to maintain his spot in the team upon the return of Joseph Wollacott, who has recovered from a finger injury that kept him out of the 2022 World Cup.

The team is set to play against Angola on March 23 at the Baba Yara Stadium and later travel to Luanda for the return leg. Both teams have four points in Group E and deem the upcoming match as crucial to decide their fate.

While the squad selection has raised some eyebrows, it’s important to remember that Hughton is an experienced coach who knows what he’s doing. He has a proven track record of success in his previous coaching stints and is well aware of what it takes to win.

The squad, as announced, looks balanced and has a good mix of experience and youth. Players like Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Daniel Amartey are expected to lead the team, while younger players like Kamal Deen Sulemana and Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer are expected to make an impact.

It remains to be seen how the team performs in the upcoming fixtures, but fans and experts will be keeping a close eye on Hughton’s squad selection and tactical decisions.