Ghana’s 'Black Stars' Coach Ratomir Dujkovic has recalled Serie A team Udinese’s midfielder Sulley Muntari for their final World Cup Africa Zone Group 2 qualifier against the Cape Verde Islands in Praia on October the 8th.

A suspension ruled Muntari out of Ghana's 2-0 win over Uganda in their last qualifier, which put them on the brink of a first World Cup finals appearance.

Ghana top their group with 18 points, three above second-placed Democratic Republic of Congo, and need only draw in their last African zone Group 2 match to reach next year's finals in Germany.

Coach has also recalled striker Asamoah Gyan, Dutch-based defender Yakubu Abubakari and the Nigeria-based Joetex Frimpong, who was injured for the last qualifier. Chelsea FC’s newly signed midfielder Michael Essien will also travel to join the squad.

With an historic 2006 World Cup ticket for the Black Stars virtually sealed, Coach Ratomir Dujkovic is setting his sight on Ghana’s next goal: The 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt. His plans for the Nations Cup may, however, not include most of the key players as he intends to give many more players a chance to feature for the Stars.

In their bid to win the African Nations Cup for a fifth time, Djukovic said his plan to rest some of his key players is to ensure that he has very fit players who would be at their peak when the World Cup kicks off.

“The players go through a lot playing for both country and club, and with the World Cup in mind it would be wise to rest some of these players and open the doors for those who are doing well but are yet to get a chance to feature for the Stars", he said.

He continued, “Even though they may openly not care much about the Nations Cup in their hearts, there is the silent desire to see the Black Stars win for the fifth time.”

The 22-man squad will train in Portugal next week before their trip to the island archipelago of Cape Verde.

Black Stars squad (team to be chosen from):

Goalkeepers:
Sammy Adjei (Moadan Sport Ashdod, Israel), Philemon McCarthy (Feyenoord Academy), George Owu (AshantiGold)

Defenders:
Yakubu Abubakari (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Issah Ahmed (Asante Kotoko), Illiasu Alhassan (King Faisal Babes), Emmanuel Duah (Nejmeh, Lebanon), John Mensah (Cremonese, Italy), John Paintsil (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Dan Quaye (Hearts of Oak), Dan Edusei (Egaleo, Greece).

Midfielders:
Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Godwin Attram (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Yusuf Chipsah (Asante Kotoko), Himinu Dramani (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro), Michael Essien (Chelsea FC, England), Laryea Kingston (Krylya Sovietov Samara, Russia), Hamza Mohamed (Real Tamale United), Sulley Muntari (Udinese, Italy)

Strikers:
Mathew Amoah (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Joetex Frimpong (Enyimba, Nigeria), Asamoah Gyan (Modena, Italy).

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati