Ghana Premier League goal poachers David Abagna and Maxwell Abbey Quaye have been included in Ghana’s provisional squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations squad.
Abagna, the captain of Real Tamale United, and Qauye, a Great Olympics player, are among the 30 players picked by head coach Milovan Rajevac on Tuesday.
Abagna is the league’s leading scorer with eight goals through nine games, while Quaye has seven.
They are not, however, the only members of the squad who are from their home country. Fatawu Issahaku and Philemon Baffour of Dreams FC, as well as Richard Attah of Hearts of Oak, have been named.
Richard Ofori, the team’s first-choice goalkeeper and second deputy captain, is notably absent. According to sources, his exclusion is due to a significant injury.
AS Roma young striker Felix Afena-Gyan has been given another chance after turning down his debut call-up last month.
Injured Mohammed Kudus is in the squad, with the technical team confident of him recovering fully before the tournament.
Captain Andre Ayew leads the squad, supported by Arsenal star Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Daniel Amartey, Baba Rahman and Jonathan Mensah.
Rajevac is expected to reduce the number to 26 after camping.
Black Stars will camp in Doha, Qatar to prepare for the competition which they have been tasked to win and end the country’s trophy drought that dates back to 1982.
The team will be in Doha for a period of three weeks and are expected to play three friendly matches. So far, only the friendly with African champions Algeria have been confirmed.
Black Stars will depart Doha for Yaoundé on Friday, January 7, three days before their opening match against Morocco.
After Morocco, Rajevac’s side will take on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon and then wrap up their group stage campaign against debutants Comoros.