AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS Olamide Abe JANUARY 1, 2024 Ghana coach Chris Hughton has announced the 27-man squad list for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) in Côte d’Ivoire. Captain André Ayew will be making his eighth AFCON appearance, equaling the tournament record held by Cameroon’s Rigobert Song and Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan. Arsenal’s Thomas Partey misses out due to injury, along with PAOK’s Baba Rahman and Leicester City’s Fatawu Issahaku. In addition to Partey’s absence due to injury, Hughton also conveyed that in-form West Ham midfielder, Mohammed Kudus is currently managing a ‘minor’ injury that requires treatment before he can join the rest of the Ghana team. “Hopefully, he will be able to join us in the coming days,” said the coach. Asante Kotoko’s Richmond Lamptey and Medeama’s duo of Hamidu Fatawu and Jonathan Sowah complete the list as the only three players from the Ghana Premier League in the final squad. Ghana will play Namibia in an international friendly at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Monday, January 8, 2024, as part of the buildup to the tournament in Cote D’Ivoire. GHANA AFCON 2023 SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi Richard Ofori Jojo Wollacott Defenders: Alidu Seidu Dennis Odoi Kingsley Schindler Gideon Mensah Hamid Abdul Fatawu Daniel Amartey Nich Opoku Alexander Djiku Mohammed Salisu Midfielders: Samed Salis Baba Iddrisu Majeed Ashimeru Elisha Owusu Richmond Lamptey Mohammed Kudus Andre Ayew Ransford Konigsdorffer Osman Bukari Joseph Paintsil Jordan Ayew Ernest Nuamah Forwards: Iñaki Williams Antoine Semenyo Jonathan Sowah