Ghana Black Stars head coach, Milovan Rajevac has defended the call up for young striker, Felix Afena Gyan for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The 18-year-old AS Roma forward has earned his debut senior national team call up for Ghana’s two remaining World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa this month.
Afena Gyan played his first Serie A game and impressed under UEFA Champions League winning coach, Jose Mourinho against Cagliari.
Felix Afena Gyan in action for AS Roma
His blistering form for “The Yellows and Reds” attracted global and Ghana coach, Milovan Rajevac’s attention which led to his eventual and first Black Stars invitation.
The Serbian trainer said: “[Jose] Mourinho is a famous coach, he is well known for his accomplishments in his career.
“If they are assured to give him [Felix Afena Gyan] chance, for example last match he played against AC Milan, second half.
Felix Afena Gyan
“And if they [AS Roma] think that, you know he is a young player, he has prospects definitely we can see according to his performance that he is definitely a promising talent.
“So why shouldn’t we be assured that he deserves a chance.
Felix Afena Gyan in AS Roma shirt
“I think he is definitely a promising talent and he should be around here and he should be a part of this squad because we always have to look for the future and establish quality players for upcoming challenges.” Milovan Rajevac said through his interpreter.
Felix Afena Gyan has so far made two appearances for Roma in the Serie A with no assist and no goal to his credit.
Felix Afena Gyan
Ghana have a date against Ethiopia on Thursday, November 11 before completing the qualifiers against South Africa on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the Cape Coast stadium.
The Black are second in Group G with 9 points – just one behind leaders, South Africa and are facing a must win in both matches to make it to the next stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Black Stars squad
Below is the 28 man squad for Ghana’s last two qualifiers.
Goalkeepers: Joseph Wollacott (Swindon Town), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St.Gallen), Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak)
Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC), Philemon Baffour (Dreams FC), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), Gideon Mensah (Girondins Bordeaux), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew), Ismail Abdul Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko)
Midfielders: Baba Idrissu (Real Mallorca), Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC), Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen F.C), Edmund Addo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Daniel Kofi Kyere (FC St. Pauli)
Wingers: Andre Ayew (Al Sadd), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Dreams FC), Kamal Deen Sulemana (Rennes), Samuel Owusu (Al Fayha)
Strikers: Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem), Benjamin Tetteh (Yeni Malatyaspor), Felix Afena Gyan (AS Roma), Caleb Ekuban (Genoa)