LeRoy Names Squad for Mexico Friendly

Claude LeRoy (who is still around…unfortunately) recently released the list of players he’ll be taking to London to face Mexico next week. Ghana and Mexico have faced each other only once before, and that was back in March 2006 in a friendly in the United States (Mexico won 1-0). Ghana, who are still Africa’s top ranked footballing nation – or so says Fifa – will hope to use this friendly to get prepared for a busy summer of both World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying.

Three players have been handed their debut call ups – Prince Buaben, Richard Manu, and Eric Bekoe. Buaben is a midfielder who plies his trade with Dundee United in Scotland (who oh so barely lost the league cup against Rangers) while Manu and Beko, a defender and a striker respectively, play for Asante Kotoko in Ghana’s domestic league. Beko is currently the league’s top goalscorer.

Asamoah Gyan is still out injured from the thigh injury he picked up during the African Cup of Nations. Included in the squad is Laryea Kingston, who just returned to fitness from a foot injury he also picked up in the ACN. Whether he’ll be prepared to play next week will depend on his progress this weekend.

Full list of players after the jump.

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England) and Fatau Dauda (AshantiGold, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (West Ham, England), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Richard Manu and Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Stabaek, Norway), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France) Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Prince Buaben (Dundee Utd, Scotland)

Strikers: Eric Bekoe (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain)