Which defenders should Ghana select for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations?
Posted On Wednesday, 5th December 2012GHANASoccernet.com looks at ten defenders who are in contention for the place in Kwesi Appiah’s squad.
Jonathan Mensah
1. Jonathan Mensah – Evian TG (France)
The 22-year-old has returned to training for Evian TG after spending three weeks on the sidelines.
Mensah is looking to make his third Nations Cup appearance after playing in the past two editions.
Since the arrival of Pascal Dupraz, the former AshGold enterprising defender has commanded first team place at the Parc des Sports.
He has scored once in 18 appearances for Ghana.
John Boye
2. John Boye – Stade Rennes (France)
Boye was by far the most impressive player in the 2012 Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Since marking his debut for the Black Stars in June 2008, the former Heart of Lions defender, 25, has made 10 appearances for Ghana.
Kwesi Appiah will be waiting anxiously on the fitness results of the enterprising defender.
Jerry Akaminko
3. Jerry Akaminko – Eski?ehirspor (Turkey)
The Turkey-based center-back will be hoping to make his first Nations Cup appearance for Ghana.
The 24-year-old has just five appearances for Ghana but has scored once.
John Pantsil
4. John Pantsil – Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)
Pantsil is one of the most experienced players in the current Ghana team, making 81 appearances.
His current form for Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Tel Aviv in both domestic and European campaigns would be the main reasons for his inclusion in the team.
Harrison Afful
5. Harrison Afful – Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
The Tunisia-based full-back is one of the strong contenders for a place in the final 23-man squad with his impressive form in both continental and domestic campaigns.
He has made 21 appearances for Ghana.
David Addy
6. David Addy – Vitória de Guimaraes (Portugal)
The 2009 Fifa World U-20 gold medalist is gradually weaving his way into the Ghana squad making recent appearances.
The 22-year-old has also been consistent for Vitória de Guimaraes in the Portugal Primeira Liga.
Samuel Inkoom
7. Samuel Inkoom – FC Dnipro (Ukraine)
Despite his no-actions at club level, the former FC Basel right-back seems to be confirming his place in the final squad.
He has 37 Ghana caps with one goal.
Daniel Opare
8. Daniel Opare – Standard Liege (Belgium)
Opare is expected to return to training later this month for the Belgian giants and hope to gain full fitness before December ending when Kwesi Appiah settles on his 25-man list.
Isaac-Vorsah
9. Isaac Vorsah – Red Bull Salzburg
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah received the news of the former TSG Hoffenheim defender’s return from injury over the weekend when he featured in an Austrian Bundesliga game for Red Bull Salzburg.
10. Nana Akwasi Asare – FC Utrecht (Holland)
The FC Utrecht captain made a return to the team after a long absence playing the 1-0 friendly win over Cape Verde in Lisbon last month.
Asare is a likely candidate for a place in the defence.
Some think players like John Mensah and Kotoko’s Rashid Sumaila should make the squad for the AFCON.
Which defenders do you think should make Ghana’s final 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations? Let’s hear your thoughts in the box below.
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Where is Lee Addy’s name? Is it a sort of propaganda?
And John mensah? If Appiah makes a costly mistake of leaving JM out of the squad, and God forbid we come short again, Akwasi Appiah should run away from Ghana. I think AA remembers what fans did to Asamoah Gyan?
Boye is injured, Vorsah is coming out of injury, Jonathan is coming out of injury as well. John Mensah is fully well and ready to lead again. Lee Addy is doing well in China, add Akaminko and Painstil and that remains only the left-back issue.
U ARE A RETARD..GYIMI GYIMI MUMU..DO U EVEN SEE A PIC OF LEE ADDY? WHY BRING HIS NAME UP THE FOOL PLAYS IN CHINA FOR CRISSAKES. THIS IS NOT A FRIED RICE EATING TOURNMNT, IDIOT
THE ONLY REASON WE MENTION JOHN MENSAHS NAME IS BCOS HE IS A CAPTAIN N SCORED 3 GOALS AT AFCON 2012…MORE GOALS THAT PLAYERS WHO EVEN PLAY CLOSER TO THE NET…LOL
WHERE IS JOHN MENSAH? THE GUY SCORED 3 GOALS @AFCON 2012. MORE GOALASSO THAN ANY OTHER GH PLAYER, INCLUDING GYAN N DEDE, KWADWO ASAMOAH…LOL
PLS, OMIT PAINSTIL N INKOOM
WHERE IS JOHN MENSAH? THE GUY SCORED 3 GOALS @AFCON 2012. MORE GOALASSO THAN ANY OTHER GH PLAYER, INCLUDING GYAN N DEDE, KWADWO ASAMOAH…LOL
PLS, OMIT PAINSTIL N INKOOM N INCLUDE THE REST
Coach Appiah should assess the fitness of John Mensah and if OK,(now that he is training with Rennes) he could be included!
Guys please lets not start with the lee addy talks he is not good enough PERIOD!
What is opare doing in there, even if he is on the verge of recovery, d boy has not and did not play matches with his respected club.. He does not deserve to b in d squad. Coach appiah should take David Addy as left back , he deserves to b in d squad, he is playing regular for his club.. A fully fit John mensah would b vital for GH to go AFCON
Paintsil,Lee Addy and Inkoom must be drop period…. Jonatnan mensah,John Mensah ,Boye ,Vorsah and kwesi Asare should make it..
NANA AKWASI ASARE, DANIEL OPARE AND JOONATHAN MENSAH DESERVE PLACE.
What is the difference between a player who is clubless and the one with club but not playing? There is no difference.afterall they are both not playing competative football so AA should not dare to drop a fit John Mensah.
Mm Opare is half fit,lee addy is full of sheet,his been given several chances to prove himself but yet he keeps on loosing his form,that guy is history,we are in new era ,we need to open our eyes wide beyond horizon,David Nii Addy,should be giving the chance ,the guy played too well in his last call ups,and his current form is very impressive,he deserves it,a gold medallist,world cup winner,first best 10 player named by FIFA,come on dis boy deserves it
WE NEED JOHN MENSAH BACK !!!!!!
You can say that again.
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN MENSAH
Inkoom and lee addy should be drop. They don’t deserve a call up
Sorry,Inkoom is one of the best players in the BS…we need in the Squad.
ISAAC VORSAH, JONATHAN MENSAH, HARRISON AFFUL, JOHN BOYE, SAMUEL INKOOM, DANIEL OPARE.
i think jonathan mensah should be call into the squrd
INCLUDE JOHN MENSAH ON THE LIST FOR AFCON. OPARE IS INJURED, INKOOM N PAINSTIL ARE USELESS. LEE ADDY WASNT PICTURED SO WHY R PPL TALKING ABOUT HIM?
Inkoom is playing the BS with his name not form! He must be replaced with Yaw frimpong(kotoko) so the back shd luk like this;
RB(2) paintail, yaw frimpong, opare LB(3) david addy, aful, nana asare, CB(4&5) john mensah,boye,jonathan,vorsah,akaminko.
Coach AA should be wise and not take unfit or out of form players to afcon, opare is injured, and inkoom is inactive. For RB and LB paintsil, afoul and David addy for CB: vorsah, mensah, boye nd akaminko
JOHN WHAT?WHO ARE THOSE CALLING FOR JOHN MENSAH? STUPIDITY AT ITS BEST!!!
NO JOHN MENSAH! NO INKOOM! NO DEREK BOATENG! BE REALISTIC PEOPLE. WE HAVE AN AFCON TO WIN HERE.
Mohammed Awal