Essien named in Ghana squad for Congo return - Orange African Nations Championship 2011

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Essien named in Ghana squad for Congo return

05-18-2011

Essien named in Ghana squad for Congo return

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Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien makes a return to the Ghana squad for the time in twelve months with his inclusion for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo next month.

Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic named the midfielder for the double header against Congo on June 3 at the Baba Yara Stadium and an international friendly four days later against South Korea in Seoul.

Essien had temporarily put his international career on hold last year after suffering injuries while playing for the Black Stars with his last game for Ghana, a forty-five minute appearance at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations against Cote d’Ivoire.

Also included in the 24-man party is striker Asamoah Gyan, who is suspended for the Congo return clash with Qatar-based winger Opoku Agyemang making a return after missing out on the World Cup last year.

Midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is also expected to make his home debut since his nationality switch last year.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars will resume camping on May 26 in Accra.

The Ghanaians who won the first leg 3-0 in Brazzaville last March share top spot of Group I with Sudan on seven points apiece, with Congo and Swaziland on three points and zero point respectively.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Blackpool, England) Sammy Adjei (Hearts of Oak, Ghana), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England) Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium) David Addy (Academica Coimbra, Portugal) Jonathan Mensah (Granada, Spain) Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany) John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Lee Addy (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Schalke 04, Germany), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese, Italy), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy) Sulley Muntari (Sunderland, England) Derek Boateng (Getafe, Spain) Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan, Italy) Andre Ayew (Marseille, France) Opoku Agyemang (Al-Ahli, Qatar)

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland, England) Prince Tagoe (Partizan Belgrade, Serbia) Dominic Adiyiah (Partizan Belgrade, Serbia) Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana)

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