Black Stars head coach Kwesi Appiah will name his provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt on May 20.
The provisional list will head for Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates for the training camp before the final 23-man squad for the tournament.
Already there have been calls for inclusion for suspended Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng to be given a chance. The two players have not played for the national team since the World Cup in Brazil 2014.
Here are 10 reasons Kwesi Appiah should heed to those calls.
1. Talented players
Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng are very gifted players. They have demonstrated it at the very highest level which most of the current crop of Black Stars players are yet to reach.
2. Experience
Muntari and Kevin are part of the few Ghanaian players above 30 still playing active football. The duo have been around for a very long time and achieved a lot especially at club level. Muntari can boost of nine major honours including the Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup while Kevin-Prince Boateng has won league titles in Italy and Spain.
3. Presence will frighten opponents
Going into major tournaments such as AFCON, teams need players such as Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who command fear and respect from opponents. With their presence, Black Stars will be feared by opponents and that psychologically is a huge advantage for the team.
4. They have learnt their lessons
The two players in recent times have shown they have changed. They conduct themselves appropriately at their clubs and given the chance can help the team end the 37-year wait for the trophy.
5. They are loved by the fans.
Ghanaians still love Muntari and Kevin. It was evident in January when Kevin made the surprise move to Barcelona and Muntari finding a club after being unattached for over six months. Their respective moves received positive reactions from fans.
6. Ghanaians must have the spirit of forgiving. They demonstrated gross indiscipline and subjected the country to international ridicule in 2014 but five years on, Ghanaians should be ready to move on and accept them back.
7. Kwesi Appiah doesn’t like them but that should not be the reason for leaving them out. He must find ways to work with them.
8. The two players have the desire to prove critics wrong and that will spur them to do extraordinary things for the Black Stars.
9. They have no injury issues. They will be better off than injury prone players being touted as candidates.
10. Their decision to want to come back proves one thing, that they are committed to Ghana and are willing to help the country succeed.
