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The former Fulham defender shares his thoughts on the list of 23 West African players presented for the October friendly against Mali
Former Ghana defender John Paintsil believes that China-based midfielder Mubarak Wakaso is still in Black Stars coach CK Akonnor’s plans, despite his absence from an announced 23-man squad for the October friendly. against Mali.
The Jiangsu Suning player was among the most notable men left out of the October 9 clash, along with such players as Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan, Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu, Metz captain John Boye and veteran forward Asamoah Gyan.
The upcoming match will help Ghana test their strength ahead of the resumption of the 2022 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers in November.
“For me, I think there is something we need to change a little bit regarding our national calls,” Paintsil told Hello FM.
“When the head coach is appointing his team, there has to be a press conference so that the media can have the opportunity to ask why certain players are missing and to inform the public of how it was discussed in the press.
“Wakaso is a key player on the team, so there is no way the coach is not talking to him before publishing the list.
“With the experience that I have, I know that the two have spoken about it and Wakaso has agreed on the reasons why he is not in the team because he is not injured. The coach knows that he is also playing.
“Unless it is not in the coach’s plans or the coach wants to find new players [he would have been spoken to] as it is a friendly match because Wakaso is a senior player. “
Wakaso made her full international debut for Ghana in 2012 and went on to represent the Black Stars at the Afcon tournaments in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
He was also a member of the Ghana team in their controversial 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil.
“There are some games where the coaches respect certain players by telling them that they want to test different players in their positions so that in case they are not present they will fit in quickly,” Paintsil said.
“I think they could have discussed something like this, that’s why he’s not on the team.”
Wakaso moved to Jiangsu Suning from Deportivo Alaves of the Spanish La Liga in January.
