FC Samartex's Afful handed debut Black Stars call-up

BLACK Stars Coach, Otto Addo, has handed a maiden national team call-up to FC Samartex left-back, Isaac Afful, for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifying doubleheader against Sudan this month.

The 25-year-old, who excelled as FC Samartex became Ghana Premier League champions last season, was also influential in their recent CAF Champions League preliminary voyage.

He became one of the only two local players named by Coach Addo in a 25-man squad announced at a press conference at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) headquarters in Accra last Thursday.

Asante Kotoko goalkeeper, Frederick Asare, is the other home-based player listed in the side for the two qualifiers in Accra on Thursday, with the return encounter scheduled at the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, Libya five days later.

Other goalkeepers set to feature for the Black Stars are Switzerland-based Lawrence Ati Zigi and Joseph Wollacott of English third-tier side, Crawley Town.

Meanwhile, France-based forward, Ernest Nuamah, and Atalanta midfielder, Ibrahim Sulemana, make respective returns to the national team after missing last month's two AFCON qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

The Black Stars have a solitary point and are in third place of the Group F qualifiers after two matches, following their defeat at home to the Palancas Negras of Angola before an uninspiring 1-1 draw against Niger in Morocco.

The Angolans sit atop the standings with a maximum of six points after also defeating Sudan last month. Kwasi Appiah's team have three points from their match day one victory over Niger who also have a point.

Only the top two are assured of automatic spots at the next continental soccer showpiece scheduled for Morocco at the end of 2025.