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In this episode of Today's Blitz, we critically examine Ghana's squad and opine on the strength and resources available to the team
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00:00The kicks, the dribbles, the goals, the celebrations, fans rearing, preview and analysis, views and opinions only on City Sports
00:08Havkon Blades.
00:09Wow, wow, wow, the African Cup of Nations is here already. Can you feel it?
00:14It's going to be a reverting context between January 13 and February 11, 2024 in hybrid Corks.
00:22City Sports has continued its special package for the 34th edition of the Havkon.
00:27And on this episode, we are analyzing Ghana's Blackstar's 27-man squad to take on Africa's best.
00:34This analysis will help the concerned team and opponents make informed decisions and make African's BKX football showpiece more competitive
00:42using the information we provide on City Sports Havkon Blades.
00:46We welcome you once again to this exciting moment of City Sports Havkon Blades.
00:50We're tied to this episode, analysis of Ghana's Blackstar's 27-man squad.
00:56Ghana left out Asma's Thomas Partey and Brightie's Tariq Lante from their 27-man squad, named on Monday for the
01:04Africa Cup of Nations finals in neighboring Hyrie Corks, which kicks off in just a few days.
01:10Partey's omissions comes as Ghana coach Chris Ortin said he had been given more time to recover from a hamstring
01:18injury.
01:18Lante was injured playing for Brightie in November, after which manager Roberto Visele said it would be for a significant
01:26period.
01:27Chris Ortin, the Blackstar's head coach, has now been forced to include Henry Hayu in his squad,
01:32which means the 34-year-old will play a record equal in the 8th Cup of Nations tournament since his
01:38first appearance in 2008.
01:41He has competed at every tournament since saved for the 2013 edition, which was won by the Super Eagles of
01:49Nigeria.
01:50Four-time winners, Ghana compete in Group B at the Cup of Nations, acting with a match against K-Vive
01:55on January 14,
01:56and then meeting Egypt and Koboos afterwards. So guys, let's take a quick look at Ghana's squad,
02:03and what each player can hand to the team as they've done for their 5th African title in Ivory Corks.
02:09So we're starting from the goalkeepers, Lawrence Artisigi, the Ghanaian first-choice goalkeeper,
02:14plays for FC St. Gallen in the Swiss League.
02:17The 27-year-old Blackstar Shotstopper has kept Franklin Sheets,
02:20and has considered 21 goals in the 18-league matches played this season.
02:25Chris Horton will be looking forward to Artisigi to bring in his experiences to get when the outcome begins in
02:31a few days' time.
02:33Next is Richard Ofori, a Ply East professional football with South Africa Premiership side Orlando Pirates.
02:39Ofori is yet to feature for Orlando Pirates in the 2023-2024 league season.
02:45The Ghanaian second-choice goalkeeper had started for the Blackstars 24 times since debut in 2015,
02:51when he kept two clean sheets during Ghana's World Cup qualifiers against Komovos.
02:56In 2023, Ofori appeared three times for the Blackstars, keeping one clean sheet and conceding jobs to goals.
03:04Ofori provides Chris Horton's win with a huge alternative should there be need to substitute Artisigi.
03:10Joe Wallacott is the third Ghanaian goalkeeper.
03:16Born and bridged to England, played for Hibernian FC in the Scottish Premier League.
03:21The Blackstar goalkeeper Wallacott has featured 11 times for the Ghanaian national team,
03:25and will impart to Richard Ofori for a second-choice position.
03:29So far this season, Joe has featured twice for Hibernian FC, and is here to keep a clean sheet.
03:36His early parts of the season have been characterized with arm strength injury,
03:39which has seen him being sidelined for about three months.
03:43Joe's concentration level and sharp-stopping reflexes with his ability to read the game and hold the ball
03:49might be a plus for the Blackstars when Horton kicks off.
03:53And now to the back lines.
03:54Daniel Amati, one of the Ghanian's experienced players currently plays for Berkshire Stars in the Turkish Super Leagues,
04:00which has featured the defence line for the Blackstars.
04:04The Blackstars defender was part of the Leicester City team that won the English Premier League title,
04:09the FA Cup, the English Community Shield, and out of England, he has helped FC Copenhagen secure one Danish championship
04:17and two Danish cup titles.
04:19Daniel has started for the Blackstars 48 times.
04:22Debuting in 2015 and has been instrumental to the team's success to date,
04:27is expected to bring to the fall his worth of experiences during the 34th edition of the AFCON
04:33to help Ghana avoid conceding cheap goals.
04:37Next is Alessandro Jiku, an emerged winner of the 2021 Ghana Football Award Player of the Year.
04:43The Fenerbahce and Ghana centre-back has featured 23 times for the Blackstar and has scored one goal.
04:49Good with a red wheels, plays the ball off the ground, likes to play long balls for midfiles often
04:54and has good ball interception and good concentration.
04:57Jiku can be deployed as a right or defensive midfield.
05:01His versatility will be an added advantage for Chris and his men at hybrid codes.
05:06Abdul Fatawo has made his next. He plays for Leicester City also in England.
05:11The under-20 AFCON winner has been deployed in different positions for the Ghanaian national teams.
05:15He's played as a right winger, a left winger and a centre midfielder.
05:19His versatility gives Chris Otting several options in the back.
05:22Fatawo has featured eight times for the national team, scored one goal and will be looking forward
05:27to adding to that tally and helping the Blackstars reach a reasonable exit at the 34 African Cup of Nation
05:35in Ivory Cokes.
05:36Guillaume Mensah, born in Accra, the HAL cell player, is one of Ghana's young Blackstars expected to get things done
05:42for Chris Otting in Ivory Cokes.
05:44The left-back has featured 19 times for the Blackstar and is looking forward to adding to his 1,666
05:51playing time during the ACON.
05:53Mensah is good with crossing, dribbling and tackling and would need to be informed for his country to help the
06:00Blackstars avoid conceding from his position.
06:03Dennis Odoi is next. Born in Lauren Benjamin, Odoi has featured for the Blackstars seven times since switching nationality.
06:11In 2022, Dennis was part of the Blackstars team that defeated Brazil 3-0 in an international friendly in 2022.
06:18The right-backs' contribution to the team were instrumental when Ghana beat the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the 2022
06:24World Cup ticket.
06:26This is Dennis Odoi first to AFCON.
06:28His death penalty will be needed to help Chris Otting and his men avoid conceding cheap goals.
06:33Odoi has won three Berjan Championships, one Berjan Cup, two Berjan Super Cups and one English Championship with Fulham.
06:41Dennis is strong with area dwells, accurate passes and other play. Likes to shoot from a distance but mocks to
06:48work on his crossing and tackling skill to help his country reach a desired extent at the 2023 AFCON.
06:54Nicholas Opoku is next. He is another experienced Blackstars player who has graduated through the 8th grade.
07:01He was part of Ghana under-17 and under-20 teams in 2013 and 2015 respectively. He joined the senior
07:08national team in July 2017 and has one goal, one assists to his name.
07:13The centre-back is expected to bring its pool of experiences to bear when Ghana begin their fifth title campaign
07:20in Ivory Coast.
07:21Nicholas plays for Hamid XC, a second division league team in France.
07:25Next is Mohamed Salissou. The 24-year-old left-back who stands 191cm tall with instrumental in the defence for
07:33Ghana to avoid cheap goals.
07:35Salissou is very strong in tackling. The area dwells in concentration as well as blocking the ball.
07:40He is however weak with his passes and he commits fouls often. In his free appearances for Monaco this season,
07:46he has been booked twice.
07:47Mohamed Salissou likes to play long balls. He is a threat to opponent with an indirect set-pieces.
07:53He kicks the ball off the ground often. He is not afraid to tackle and clears the ball out of
07:59the defence very quickly.
08:00It will be key for the Blackstars at the back line.
08:03And now, Schindler Kingsley.
08:05German Bond Kingsley is a right-back and can also double as a mid-feeder.
08:09Schindler's ability to place the ball from across and wind area draws will be a great advantage for the Blackstars
08:14during the half-con.
08:15Schindler is however weak in tackling and passes. He plays for Samson's ball in the Turkish Super League.
08:20The 30-year-old who stands 183cm tall has appeared four times for Ghana, all of which are in international
08:27friendly matches.
08:28Ghana won two locks to one and drew one of those friendly.
08:32Kingsley Schindler's strengths lie in his ability to deliver good crosses and rear draws, but weak in tackling and passes.
08:39Hanidou Sehidou. Born in Habijanko-de-Voye, Sehidou will be playing for Ghana as he is playing at home.
08:45He plays for Clement Forte in the French League One. He has appeared six times for the Blackstar since his
08:51debut in June 2022.
08:53The skillful centre-back is a great asset to the Blackstar as he has a very strong dribbling skill, hold
08:58-off play, a high interception rate and he is strong with tackling too.
09:02However, Halidou is weakly with discipline. He has been booked five times this season in the French League One with
09:09one or such booking being a red card.
09:11Of 10 matches played so far, Halidou has emerged man of the match once.
09:16If Ghana intend to go far at the 2023 AFCON, they will certainly need Sehidou to be at his best
09:22and the discipline.
09:26And now to the mid-feeder house. We have Majid Hashimero, a central mid-feeder who plays his professional football
09:32with RSC Anderlet in Germany.
09:35He is a two-time Austrian champion and two-time Austrian cup winner. The 26-year-old has featured thrice
09:41for Ghana.
09:42Majid is very strong at dribbling and good with short passes through balls. He is also good at securing set
09:48pieces for extreme as opponents often fouling.
09:51Meanwhile, Hashimero is bad with area drills and concentration. Majid Hashimero is certainly a plus to the Blackstar squad but
09:58must work on its concentration level.
10:00Bukhari
10:01Juzman Bukhari is next. A right winger who applied his professional career with the Serbian club.
10:07Rexha Bergrid was granted citizenship by the Serbian government in June 2023 for his outstanding performance in the Serbian league.
10:14Bukhari has appeared 12 times and scored 3 goals and 2 assists for the Blackstars since graduating from the Under
10:20-23 to the Senior National Team.
10:21Bukhari is naturally a right winger but can be deployed as a centre-forward as well as left winger.
10:28The 25-year-old strength is in his key passes and ability to dribble past the opponent, penetrating and creating
10:34scoring chances for his teammates.
10:37Juzman is even more dangerous with callback and counter-attack but lacks defensive contribution and offside awareness.
10:43And he is weak with area drills and crosses.
10:47Abba Idrisu is next. The La Liga side Yudi Amerias midfielder has appeared 20 times for the Blackstar since 2019.
10:56He can also be soft as a defensive midfielder.
10:59The 27-year-old is good with area drills and long-range shots, but weak with his passes, discipline and
11:05lack of concentration.
11:06However, his experiences will be needed to hold the base fit for Chris out inside during the 2023 outcome.
11:14The next is Ransford Yeboah, born in Berlin Germany, switched Allegias to Ghana in 2021 after appearing for the Germans
11:22under-20 and under-21 teams.
11:24The right winger who plays for Hamburger's SP has appeared twice for Ghana Blackstars, a good dribbler and has a
11:31good area drill advantage.
11:33Polak's discipline is not good with older play, low defensive contribution rates and also needs to improve on his passes.
11:40Ransford likes to dribble to court inside, prefers short passes. He can also be deployed as a centre forward or
11:47a left winger.
11:49And to one of the stars that will be illuminating the tournament, Mohamed Kudos, one of Africa's best to illuminate
11:56the 34th edition of the AFCON.
11:58Kudos who plays for Wexham United, the English Premier League in England at 6 goals and 1 at 6 in
12:0416 appearances for the toughest and 9 goals for the Blackstars in 26 appearances.
12:09Kudos, an attacking midfielder, is one of the Blackstars most experienced players to feature at the 34th edition of the
12:16AFCON in Ivory Coast.
12:18Kudos is a complete footballer whose contribution to Wexham's Premier League campaign has been amazing.
12:24He is expected to bring the same energy to bear when featuring for Ghana at Ivory Coast.
12:29Kudos, as a match, as a player of the match four times this season in the English Premier League, he
12:35is a very skillful dribbler.
12:36Context area dwells so well, excellent finisher as Akure passes effective free kick taker, can shoot from any range with
12:43precision and contribute immensely to the defence line.
12:46Simply put, Mohamed Kudos likes to play long balls, gets fouled often, likes to lay off, caught inside and dribble
12:54but also commits fouls often and lags offside.
12:57I'll be honest, that he needs to take note of. His ability to play as an attacking midfielder and as
13:03a forward just as a midfielder will be a great asset for the Blackstars in Ivory Coast.
13:09Richmond Lampton, 26-year-old Richmond, who plays for Asante Kotoko, is one of the own best players to debut
13:16for Ghana at the 34th edition of the AFCON.
13:19The 26-year-old is considered the rising star of Ghana's football. He is good at positioning himself at the
13:25right hand and at the right hand for rebounds.
13:28We are going to watch out for Richmond when the AFCON kick starts.
13:31Alasha Owusu made his debut against the Super Eagles of Nigeria during the 2022 FAO Cup qualifiers in March 2022.
13:40He has appeared six times for the Ghanaian national team and plays for Heji Osser in the French Ligue 1.
13:46The 26-year-old defensive midfielder likes to dribble and shoot from distance. He is weak with aerial draw and
13:53concentration.
13:54The next is Joseph Pencil. Pencil plays for Cenk. The Ghanaian right winger has featured nine times for the Blackstars
14:02since graduating from the under-23 in 2017.
14:05Joseph is a complete striker who can score from direct free kicks from long-range shots.
14:10His crosses, finishing and passes are part of what the winger is bringing to the Blackstars squad for the 2023
14:17African Cup of Nations.
14:18Joseph loves to play short passes and court inside but is weak with good defensive contribution.
14:25Simply saying, his defensive contribution is low.
14:29Salis Abdul Samid is next.
14:31Plays his professional football with length in French Ligue 1 and has appeared eight times for the Ghana Blackstars.
14:38Notably, during the last FAO Cup in Qatar, stands 179cm tall.
14:42The midfielder will be a good figure for the Blackstars in ivory coats for his accurate passes.
14:48Chubot doesn't like to dive in.
14:51And now to the forwards and the attacks.
14:54We have the most experienced Andrew Ayouu.
14:58A player for Lou Averro in the French Ligue 1.
15:00He will be appearing for a record eighth time at the AFCON.
15:05His inclusion follows Saric Lante's injury.
15:07The 34-year-old who was born in France is the most experienced player that Chris Alton will be banking
15:13on to spearhead the front line for the Blackstars.
15:17The forward has had over 114 caps for the Blackstars scoring 24 goals.
15:22Andre is a good dribbler.
15:24His ability to hold onto the ball, drops opponents out, and opens up opponents' defense line would be a plus
15:30for the Blackstar.
15:31He is a good finisher who loves to cut inside, lay out good passes, secure set-pieces for his team,
15:37and more importantly, contribute at great length to the defense line.
15:40Age and playing time would be Andrew Ayouu's limitation at the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
15:47Next, Jordan Ayouu.
15:49He is the son of the former Ghana captain of the Aper De Pele and the brother of fellow players
15:55Andre Ayouu and Ibrahim Ayouu.
15:57He plays for Christian Palace in the English Premier League.
16:00He is one of the experienced players who will be battling other African top players for the 2023 AFCON title
16:06in Ivory Coast.
16:08Appeared 90 times for Ghana and scored 19 times.
16:11For the Marcel-born 32-year-old forward, he brings to bear his worth of experience with dribbling skills, defensive
16:17contributions, nodding advantage, layoffs, circles, and his ability to get free kicks off the opponent during the 34th edition of
16:25the AFCON.
16:26And next is NXT Nohama.
16:28Nohama is one of the debutants at the 2023 AFCON.
16:32He first appeared for the Blackstar against Madagascar in June 2023 during the AFCON qualifiers.
16:37The 20-year-old NXT Nohama will be expected to have his name in gold for the Ghana Blackstar's under
16:43coach Chris Otten.
16:44Come when the AFCON kick starts.
16:46And next is Anthony Cimeo.
16:48Anthony Cimeo is born in London.
16:49The 24-year-old drag finger-wolf place for English Premier League side.
16:53Burn and Melt has scored two goals for Ghana in its appearances since his fake skull-up in 2022.
16:59Cimeo likes to flick on, caught inside and dribble, also good at complexing area draws but needs to improve on
17:06his discipline.
17:07He also loses the ball easily and is weak with his passes.
17:11He is also on his debut AFCON for the Blackstar and would love to make his first timeout count.
17:17Jonathan Soe, another home-pitched player linked by Chris Otten, plays for Medima in Ghana's first-tier Premier League.
17:25The 25-year-old has played two matches for the Blackstars with no goals yet.
17:30However, his four goals in eight matches for Medima FC's peak volumes of his ability to score goals.
17:36Stands 1.8m tall, Jonathan Soe will be expected to bring his Cav Champions League experiences to them when called
17:43upon during the AFCON.
17:45And finally, Hinaki Williams, two Spanish Cup winners with Bilbao but now plays for Athletic.
17:52The 29-year-old Blackstar's right winger has appeared eight times for Ghana since switching alleges from Spain to Ghana.
17:58Though yet to score for the Blackstars, Williams is a good finisher, likes to cut inside, plays short passes, does
18:06not dive into tackles and is weak with defensive contribution.
18:10Williams will be Ghana's point man when the AFCON kicks off this Saturday.
18:15And there you have it, guys. All that you need to know about Ghana's 27-man squad as announced by
18:20Coach Chris Otten.
18:22Found this content valuable? Don't forget to like, comment, share, subscribe and turn on the notification button for more.
18:28Watch out for the next episode of AFCON Blades. It's titled,
18:31African Stars Illuminating the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
18:36Cedric Sport is a production of Diamond Founded Media. We love you, always.
18:40AFCON Blades.
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