‘Unhappy’ Afena Gyan rejects Black Meteors call-up for U23 Afcon qualifier

Coach Ibrahim Tanko welcomed the 20-year-old ahead of the Black Meteors’ crucial two-leg U23 AFCON qualifier against Algeria

Afena-Gyan was a member of the Black Stars squad that defeated Nigeria in the playoffs to earn a spot in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

After scoring his first international goal in a 3-0 win over Madagascar in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, he was invited back for the pre-World Cup friendly against Brazil.

Afena-Gyan, on the other hand, was left out of Ghana’s final roster for the tournament in Qatar, as well as Chris Hughton’s 25-man squad for the forthcoming double-header AFCON qualifier against Angola.

According to reports, the kid, who has scored two goals for Cremonese this season, is still reeling from his World Cup snub, which is why he turned down the Black Meteors call-up.

Meanwhile, foreign-based players Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh have been invited to Ghana’s U23s for the qualifiers against Algeria.

Coach Ibrahim Tanko has called up eight foreign-based players, including in-form Nordsjaelland midfielder Ernest Nuamah, as the Black Meteors prepare to face the North Africans over two games.