Afcon 2025Q: Two Ghana Premier League players handed debut call ups for Angola and Niger games
Black Stars Head Coach, Otto Addo, on Thursday, 7th November, 2024, named his squad for Ghana’s final AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
The list features the return of goalkeeper, Manaf Nurudeen who has been absent from the team for months, as well as some three debutants.
Nathaniel Adjei (FC Lorient)
The 22 year old center back has been called up to the senior side for the first time after previously featuring for the Black Satellites and the Black Meteors.
He was part of the Ghana U-23 side that represented the country at the U-23 AFCON in Morocco, last year.
After playing his youth football for Nungua based, Danbort FC, he got the move to Swedish side, Hammarby TFF, before joining French side Lorient in 2023. He has made 9 appearances for the Ligue 2 side so far this season, with his team sitting in second place.
Razak Simpson (Nations FC)
Nations FC’s 26 year old rock, Razak Simpson, will be looking to get his opportunity to make his first national team appearance, after receiving a debut call up.
Simpson, who can play at center back or defensive midfield, has been in the Ghana League for the past 5 seasons, having spells with WAFA and AshantiGold.
But it’s his performances for Nations FC over the past year that has caught attention.
A mainstay in the Nations FC team, Simpson has started all nine games this season, winning one MVP award and registering 6 clean sheets in the process. Blessed with an exceptional ball striking technique, Simpson can be the Black Stars weapon from set pieces.
Emmanuel Antwi (Kotoko)
Asante Kotoko’s Emmanuel Antwi has made a good impression in the Ghana Premier League this season. The 28 year old attacking midfielder has started every league game of the Porcupine Warriors, scoring once so far.
He joined Kotoko at the start of the season on a three year deal from Great Olympics where he scored 6 times last season. Antwi has shown his versatility over the years, and has featured as a left winger and a central midfielder at times.