With just a few hours to the big announcement by Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah over his provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup, GHANAsoccernet.com assesses the chances of candidates in the goalkeeping department.
Adam Kwarasey
He will probably be one of the first names to make coach Kwesi Appiah’s squad for the World Cup purely because of his consistency and good form at Norwegian club Stromsgodset.
He is even being talked off at the possible first choice at the World Cup following the difficulties Fatau Dauda has had at Orlando Pirates.
Kwarasey captained Stromsgodset to the Norwegian top flight title last season and has played every single minute of their campaign this season.
He is considered a sure bet to make the squad but doubts are rife over whether he can indeed emerge as the first choice at the World Cup in Brazil.
Having been the safest pair of hands for the Black Stars in over a year, it will come as a major surprise if Fatau Dauda is dropped from Ghana’s World Cup squad despite his issues at Orlando Pirates.
The 28-year-old managed just three league appearances for the Buccaneers all-season-long – giving rise to doubts over his first choice role in the team.
Kwesi Appiah however kept faith in the ex AshantiGold man throughout the qualifiers and could therefore be considered a safe bet ahead of the official naming of the Black Stars squad for June’s tournament.
The Aduana Stars goalkeeper could very well end up as the only home-based players to end up in the squad that is populated with foreign-based players.
Adams missed the opportunity to make the Black Stars squad for the World Cup four years ago and will be dealt another heavy blow if he fails to make this one as well.
His impressive performances during the CHAN tournament have also won him some points but it remains to be seen if they are strong enough to get him on the plane to Brazil.
He has just come of a gruelling season with Free State Stars who escaped relegation by the skin of the teeth.
The ex Liberty Professionals captain has however failed to come into his own despite spending a lot of time deputizing with the Black Stars. There is however the feeling he could be preferred over others but that will only be known when the squad is named.
He is liked a lot by the coaches and officials but the fact that he plays in the third tier in Spain is a massive disincentive to include him in the squad.
He has done very well to steer Cordoba off the foot of Segunda B to guarantee them another season in the same division when they looked destined for relegation.
He could make the squad but his chances are considered to be long shots.