ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Defender Jerry Akaminko was left out of Ghana’s final World Cup squad on Sunday after being injured and stretchered off in a tuneup game against the Netherlands.
Turkey-based Akaminko, Leicester City defender Jeffrey Schlupp and striker David Accam were cut from the final group named by coach Kwesi Appiah a day after the 1-0 loss to the Dutch in Rotterdam.
Captain Asamoah Gyan and midfielder Sulley Muntari were included to play at their third World Cup for Ghana, which has qualified for the last three showpieces and made the quarterfinals four years ago in South Africa. Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Ayew brothers Andre and Jordan also made the 23-man squad.
Akaminko hurt his ankle late in the game against losing 2010 World Cup finalist the Netherlands and was carried off. The 26-year-old Eskisehirspor player will be sidelined for three months, the Ghana Football Association said.
Appiah’s final squad contains 16 World Cup debutants, the association said, mixing youth with the experience of Gyan, AC Milan pair Muntari and Essien, defender Jonathan Mensah and Schalke’s Boateng, who was picked as a forward. Midfielders Kwadwo Asamoah and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, who play in Italy’s Serie A, will also go to the World Cup.
The Ghana squad now travels to the United States for a final friendly against South Korea on June 9. Ghana plays the U.S., Germany and Portugal in Group G at the World Cup and opens against the Americans on June 16.
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Squad:
Goalkeepers: Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Porto), Harrison Afful (Esperance), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Wakaso Mubarak (Rubin Kazan).
Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux).
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