Milovan Rajevac has named his preliminary Ghana Black Stars 30-man preliminary squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The former Al-Ahli and Algeria trainer named his squad for the upcoming tournament during a press conference at the Ghana Football Association.

He will lead Ghana to their 23rd appearance, where they have won the championship four times in 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982.

Ghana local players will leave for Qatar on Wednesday, 22 December 2022, to continue preparations for the next month’s tournament.

The Black Stars will play a local club, one other country and African champions Algeria in friendlies while camping in the Middle East.

The Full Squad List

GOALKEEPERS: Joseph Wolacott (Swindon Town, England), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen, Belgium), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Gallen, Switzerland)

DEFENDERS: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC, England), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC, England), Gideon Mensah (Girondins de Bordeaux, France), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg FC, France), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA), Khalid Abdul Mumin (Vitoria de Guimaraes, Portugal)

MIDFIELDERS: Baba Iddrissu (Real Mallorca, Spain), Edmund Addo (Sherif Tiraspol, Moldova), Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal, England), Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen, China), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Daniel Kofi Kyere (St. Pauli, Germany), David Abagna (Real Tamale United), Salis Abdul Samed (Clermont Foot, France)

FORWARDS: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Dreams FC), Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Kamal Deen Suleymana (Rennes, France), Dede Ayew (Al Sadd, Qatar), Joseph Paintsil (Genk, Belgium), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem, Israel), Maxwell Abbey Quaye (Great Olympics), Felix Afena Gyan (AS Roma, Italy), Benjamin Tetteh (Malatyaspor, Turkey)

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Guinean head coach Kaba Diawara has named his final squad ahead of the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations next month.

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is one of the prominent players for the West African nation. The 24-team event will start in Cameroon from 9th Jan to 6th of February 2022.

Guinea will start their AFCON campaign at the Stade de Kouekong, Bafoussam, taking on Malawi on January 10, 2022. 

The Syli will open their camp on December 26 in Conakry, and the head coach will have two friendlies against Rwanda in early January.

Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty over the tournament going ahead as planned. However, the caf a few days ago dismissed these rumours.

Organisers have stated that only fans who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with proof of a negative test can attend January’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Group B – Guinea, Malawi, Senegal and Zimbabwe 

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Algeria left it late to score twice in extra time as they defeated neighbours Tunisia 2-0 to win the FIFA Arab Cup at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Saturday.

Amir Sayoud scored in the 99th minute of extra time before Yacine Brahimi completed their triumph at the Al Khor city to ensure they emerged victorious.

As a result, they have added the Arab crown to the Africa Cup of Nations title they won in 2019, which they’ll start to defend against Sierra Leone next month at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.

A few hours earlier, Qatar and Egypt faced off in the third-place match, both teams seeking consolation after their semi-final elimination on Wednesday. 

The host nation won the bronze medal on penalties (0-0, 4-5 on penalties). You can follow the events of the matches in real-time via the links below or watch the matches live and in full on the YouTube channel.

RESULT: Tunisia 0-2 Algeria

Tunisia XI: Hassen, Drager, Talbi, Ifa, Ben Hmida, Chaalali, Sassi, Mejbri, Sliti, Jaziri, Msakni.

Algeria XI: M’Bolhi, Banayada, Bedrane, Benlamri, Chetti, Mrezigue, Bendebka, Meziani, Brahimi, Belaili, Bounedjah.

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Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been named in the Panther’s 30-man pre-Afcon squad.

French coach Patrice Neveu will open his training camp in Dubai according to the Fédération Gabonaise de Football.

They are expected to leave Gabon on the 27th of December for Dubai ahead of two friendlies scheduled, notably against the Elephants of the Ivory Coast and the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.

Gabon will open their Group C 2021 AFCON campaign against newcomers Comoros at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé 10 January 2022 before taking on Ghana and Morocco 14 and 18th January at the same venue, respectively.

Having missed the 2019 tournament in Egypt, they will be working on strategies to make the round of 16 from Group C.

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• There were fears the tournament would be delayed further amid the spread of the Omicron Virus.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a joint statement with the Government of the Republic of Cameroon, Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT), regarding the plan to counter the pandemic in relation to the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 (AFCON 2021), have insisted that the African Cup of Nations will still be held in January 2022.

The organising bodies have acknowledged the seriousness of the Omicron virus and have put measures in place to prevent Cameroonians and everyone who will be at the tournament.

The African football body stressed that despite the additional challenge posed by the pandemic, the AFCON must take place as planned; the official opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on 9 January 2022 at the Complexe Sportif d’Olembé.

CAF says, in less than 25 days, the best 24 African football teams will participate in the AFCON 2021. However, special measures must be taken seriously in connection with this important and prestigious event.

The Cameroonian government, through its Minister of Health and the Minister of Sport, Physical Education, CAF and FECAFOOT, have decided that:

• Supporters may only enter stadiums to attend AFCON 2021 matches if they are fully vaccinated and are able to show a negative PCR test result that is no older than 72 hours or a negative antigen test result, no older than 24 hours.

• The competent health authorities will take all necessary action to facilitate vaccination and the performance of screening tests at all competition sites.

• To ensure objectiveness and neutrality as well as, trust on all sides, CAF will use an independent, internationally recognised laboratory to test the national-team players and their delegations.

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