Ghana names Japan squad

Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto has been called up for the first time for next week’s the friendly against Ghana.

Jubilo Iwata striker Ryoichi Maeda was also invited for the game in Holland, Japan coach Takeshi Okada said on Sunday.

The Asians will play the Black Stars in Utrecht on September 9 as part of their preparations for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Morimoto, who moved to the Italian side in 2006 after three seasons with J-League side Tokyo Verdy, has scored nine goals in 42 Serie A games.

He also netted in the season-opener last weekend against Sampdoria. Maeda, who has scored 12 goals in the J-League this season, replaced Yoshito Okubo after the Vissel Kobe forward withdrew with a back problem.

It will be the first time Maeda has joined the national team since the East Asian Championships in February last year.

“I was surprised by the sudden call-up, but I’ll do my best to play my 100 percent. I’ll do my best to take the chances on the pitch,” Maeda said in a statement issued by Iwata.

Espanyol midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, Junichi Inamoto of Rennes, Makoto Hasebe of Wolfsburg and the in-form Keisuke Honda of Dutch side Venlo will join Morimoto from European clubs.

First-choice goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki will miss the Dutch tour after fracturing a finger during a J-League match last week.

He needs 10 weeks to fully recover.