Five players make Black Stars return after long-term absence

Five players including Bernard Tekpetey and Crystal Palace winger, Jeffrey Schulupp have made a return to the Black Stars set-up after a long absence ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Majeed Ashimeru, Joseph Paintsil and Samuel Owusu have all received call ups from Coach Otto Addo to the team’s provisional squad ahead of the mundial.

The German-based Ghanaian tactician has reportedly named 55-man provisional squad but the list is expected to be released by the Ghana Football Association in the next hours.

Bernard Tekpetey

The Ludogorets Razgrad forward has been out from the Black Stars for five years. He was part of the squad that played at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.

He is tearing it up in Bulgaria so far this season, having scored 8 goals in the Bulgarian league games so far after week fourteen. However, his performance has earned a sensational return into the national team for preparations ahead of the World Cup.

Joseph Paintsil

Outstanding in the Belgian top flight so far this season, Paintsil has had a hand in five goals in 13 games in the Belgian top-flight league.

He also caught the eye during the dismal Afcon campaign, and it appears utterly bizarre that he wasn’t included in the squad for the September friendlies but he has been included in the provisional squad for the tournament.

Majeed Ashimeru

Majeed Ashimeru who revealed his ambitions of securing a place in the Black Stars squad ahead of the World Cup berth in Qatar later this year is on Otto Addo’s provisional squad that has been given to the FA.

Ashimeru had a blistering campaign in Belgium last in which he was involved in 6 goals contribution in 31 games for Anderlecht.

He has featured in eleven games for the Belgian side this season with two goals and one assist.

The 24-year-old midfielder made his debut for the Black Stars in 2017 under Kwesi Appiah but failed to cement a place in the team.

Jeffrey Schlupp

The Crystal Palace winger has been included in Ghana’s preliminary squad for the 2022 World Cup, marking his return to the national team after a year away.

He last played for the Black Stars in September 2021 when he played 28 minutes in a World Cup qualifier win over Ethiopia.

Schlupp was injured in that game and had not been invited since, with his absence attributed to fitness concerns.

However, with his return to full fitness and consistency in the Premier League, Otto Addo is said to have included Sclupp in his preliminary squad and will hope to be part of the final squad for the tournament that gets underway on November 20.

Samuel Owusu

Samuel Owusu per reports, has been included in the Black Stars provisional World Cup man list following his recent stellar performance.

Owusu, 26, has started the season on a very higher note with Serbian side FK Cukaricki and is most likely to make a return into the senior national team.

He is hoping to cement his place in the final squad that will be presented to FIFA in November before the tournament.