Torric Jebrin, 6 others get debut Black Stars call-ups

Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah has handed debut call-ups to seven players including TP Mazembe midfielder Torric Jebrin for next month's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against South Africa and São Tomé and Príncipe.

The former Accra Hearts of Oak wonderkid caught the eye of the national team selectors following a transfer to TP Mazembe in July this year.

Jebrin, 28, has scored a goal and recorded four assists for Mazembe since joining the African giants.

Other debutants in Appiah's 23-man squad are Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu, Real Mallorca midfielder Iddrisu Baba, SC Paderborn midfielder Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Ashgold striker Shafiu Mumuni, FC Nordsjaelland forward Mohammed Kudus and Azam FC goalie Razak Abalora.

Columbus Crew SC fullback Harrison Afful has also be recalled to the squad after being left out of the last squad named by Appiah for AFCON 2019.

Usual suspects

In-form trio Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey are in the squad after making impressive starts to the European football season with their respective clubs.

Stars' skipper Andre Ayew has scored three goals and recorded three assists in 12 appearances for Swansea City in the English Championship and Jordan has scored four goals in nine games for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League.

Partey, 26, has dominated games in midfield for Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga, scoring a goal in 10 matches.

Notable absentees

Black Stars general captain Asamoah Gyan was not named in the squad. Gyan, 33, joined Indian Super League club NorthEast United in September this year and has scored a goal in two matches. 

Qualifiers

The Black Stars are in Group C of the qualifiers alongside South Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Sudan for the tournament which will be staged in Cameroon in 2021.

The four-time AFCON winners will host South Africa's Bafana Bafana on Thursday, November 14 at the Cape Coast stadium before travelling to play São Tomé and Príncipe on  Monday, November 18.

Black Stars squad for AFCON 2021 qualifiers against South Africa & São Tomé and Príncipe:

GOALKEEPERS: Richard Ofori (Maritzburg FC, South Africa), Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Razak Abalora (Azam FC, Tanzania)

DEFENDERS: Andy Yiadom (Reading, England), Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Lumor Agbenyenu (Real Mallorca, Spain), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kassim Nuhu (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany), Nicholas Opoku (Udinese, Italy), Mohammed Salisu (Real Valladolid, Spain)

MIDFIELDERS: Samuel Owusu (Al Fahya, Saudi Arabia), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Alfred Duncan (Sassuolo, Italy), Mubarak Wakaso (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Iddrisu Baba (Real Mallorca, Spain), Christopher Antwi-Adjei (SC Paderborn, Germany)

FORWARD: Andre Ayew (Swansea, England), Mohammed Kudus (FC Nordsjaelland, Denmark), Emmanuel Boateng (Dalian Yifang, China), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England), Torric Jibril (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Shafiu Mumuni (Ashantigold)