Felix Afena-Gyan, a young striker who had been invited to join Ghana’s U23 national team, declined a call-up.
Before the crucial two-legged U23 AFCON qualifying match between Algeria and the Black Meteors, the 20-year-old was invited by coach Ibrahim Tanko.
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The US Cremonese forward reportedly declined the invitation, despite the Ghana Football Association sending his club all necessary travel documents.
Afena-Gyan was a member of the Black Stars team that defeated Nigeria’s rivals in the playoffs to advance to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Felix Afena-Gyan has turned down an invitation to join the Black Meteors squad for the U23 AFCON qualifier against Algeria. #JoySports pic.twitter.com/I3K1g6J6NP
— ⬅️ #OhChaleDeyJoy (@JoySportsGH) March 23, 2023
As Ghana eliminated the Super Eagles on away goals, the former AS Roma star started both home and away matches.
Later, in a 3-0 victory over Madagascar in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, he scored his first goal for his country, and he was again invited to the pre-World Cup friendly against Brazil.
However, Afena-Gyan was left off of Ghana’s final roster for the tournament in Qatar and was left off of Chris Hughton’s 25-man roster for the upcoming doubleheader AFCON qualifier against Angola.
According to reports, the young player, who has scored two goals for Cremonese this season, is still upset about being left out of the World Cup, which led him to decline the call-up to the Black Meteors.
.@USCremonese forward Felix Afena-Gyan (20) has turned down an invitation to join the Ghana U23 team for their upcoming AFCON Qualifiers.
The Ghana FA has sent all the travelling requirements to the Serie A club but the player has decided not to turn up. pic.twitter.com/uQI7GAofpl
— Nuhu Adams (@NuhuAdams_) March 22, 2023
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh are two of the foreign-based athletes who have been invited to play for Ghana’s U23 team against Algeria in the qualifiers.
As the Black Meteors get ready for their two-leg matchup with the North Africans, coach Ibrahim Tanko has called up a total of eight foreign-based players, including in-form Nordsjaelland midfielder Ernest Nuamah.
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Friday, March 24, will see Ghana take on Algeria in Annaba for the first leg. On March 28, Ghana will host Algeria at the Baba Yara Sports stadium.
The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be attended by the victor of the two-leg contest.
Emmanuel Essiam of FC Basel, Emmanuel Yeboah of CFR Cruj, Alex Sarfo, Zubairu Ibrahim of FK Jedinstvo Ub, and Adams Salim of FC Cincinnati are the other foreign-based players invited.
