Gyan, Dede, others out of Canada match

Coach Avram Grant has been forced to lead a limping Black Stars side into Tuesday’s international friendly against Canada in Washington.

As of press time yesterday, it was clear that Grant was going to miss the services of his reliable captain Asamoah Gyan and and his vice Andre Dede Ayew, as well as Christian Atsu, Rabiu Mohammed and Abdul-Majeed Waris, all through injury.

That, together with the late withdrawal of returnee goalkeeper, Adam Larsen Kwarasey, by Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers, summed up the Stars coach’s predicament as he struggles to raise a team to honour this FIFA-free-day assignment against the North Americans.  

In the absence of Gyan and Ayew, the captaincy burden will fall on Italy-based Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, as he leads a make-shift squad to protect the nation’s pride against the Canadians.

As the Stars also battle with visa acquisition regarding some invited players, the newly-crowned SWAG 2014 Footballer of the Year, Harrison Afful, who now plies his trade with Columbus Crew in the US Major League Soccer, will be a sure bet, while Kwarasey’s teammate, Ishmael Yartey, could also earn a late call-up.

On paper, Coach Benito Floro’s Marple Leaf side, nicknamed The Reds, appear to be no match for Ghana with their current low FIFA ranking of 104, as against Ghana’s 25 as of October 1.

The local component of the Ghana team left Accra for the US last Wednesday.