Media reacts to Kwesi Appiah's squad for Congo games

The first game will be played in Kumasi before the Black Stars fly to Brazzaville to go up against Congo for a second time in a span of five days.

We sampled views of journalists to give us an idea of what the media thinks on the call ups James Kwesi Appiah has made.

Nathan Quao (Head of Sports, Citi FM)

I am not too surprised at the call-ups handed out. Players like Atamah Larweh and Ati Zigi had been knocking on the door and so it is pleasing to see that they have been invited. I hope that they will be kept close to the team and ushered in gradually. Concerning Edwin Gyasi, we will have to wait and see what he has. Gideon Waja should get a feel of the action because he has been in good form. Very often, we have called local-based players and not given them the chance to play. But I feel Waja needs some minutes. Apart from that, it's business as usual.

Godfred Akoto Boafo (Pulse & Business Insider)

With regards to the squad, it is a typical Kwesi Appiah he likes to spring up surprises and likes to keep them young. There is Edwin Gyasi who is another left sided winger who I think was not needed but he looks like a good player and Kwesi Appiah will definitely like to make such an addition for competition in the team. I am still surprised to see there was no call up for an optional right back. Harrison Afful seems to have his best days behind him and there is that need to bring in an alternative to Harrison Afful. That for me was a bit disappointing to see. All in all is a deep and a good squad is great to see the consistency of Joseph Attamah Larweh rewarded. This is a player who should have gone to the AFCON but was dropped by Avram Grant for mysterious reasons. His consistency in the Turkish league has seen him get another call up to the squad by Kwesi Appiah. In totality, it is a great call up by Kwesi Appiah.

Benjamin Nketsia (Citi FM)

I believe that a number of offensive midfielders including Accam and Blessing have been exemplary for their teams and their absence is puzzling because Appiah was in the USA to scout them. While the marquee players in the squad have waned in their abilities to execute over the past couple of months. Generally this team won't strike fear into opponents.

And Appiah's decision to leave only one local based player stems from what he observed with the Black Stars B team so no surprises there. Ofori on the other hand looks like he will make that goalkeepers slot his for a long time to come.

Evans Ofotsu (Radio XYZ)

Kwesi Appiah has always indicated he wants to build a formidable team, a winning side than can pride itself of playing possessive and attractive football. The core of the squad he used in his 5 nil drubbing of Ethiopia is still there.

Gyan, Jordan and Dwamena are the best forwards Ghana can boost of at the moment.

The inclusion of Waja is a huge comfort to the Ghana Premier League fanatics but I doubt he will be given playing time due to what I will call a "chocked midfield"

Am excited Schlupp is back to give Lumor some pressure but disappointed no top class right back has been invited to do same to Harrrison Afful.

Also disappointed Winful Cobinah missed out too, but I know with Atsu, our midfield will be creative.

All in all, am glad Lawrence Ati, Alfred Duncan, and Joseph Attamah get another bite of the cherry.

It's a fairly impressive squad

Micheal Nsiah Otchere(STARR FM)

Well I think it's a good one looking at the new faces. Kwesi Appiah is noted for that and giving others to justify why they should be called I think it's a step in the right direction.

On the one local player invited I feel he's really paid his dues this season. For me it will serve as a tonic for other local players to continue to work hard to earn a call up into the Black Stars

Samuel Zigah (GIJ)

I would have loved to see more than 2 local players in the team. Also, I think the exclusion of Wakaso is mindboggling. Need explanations.

Muftawu Nabila Abdulai (Kwese Sports)

Are these the 24 silent killers Kwesi Appiah assembled to play against Congo? Kwesi Appiah has given opportunities to new players like Edwin Gyasi, Gideon Waja. I forsee Ati Zigi starting ahead of Richard Ofori in these games as the former has been good for his club. I am a bit taken aback by a few players who have been dropped. Mubarak Wakaso and Agyemang Badu were dropped in the AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia and they have once again been dropped. Kwesi Appiah knows what he is doing and I think he can get the players to win those two games. He has the track record of getting results from African sides in their backyards as he did that against Sudan and Lesotho in his first stint with the senior national team.

Emmanuel Ayamga (Pulse Sports)

For me, I think the squad is okay, especially when you look at the fact that every player in there is a regular at club level. Sometime back under Avram Grant, we would have been speaking about how some fringe players have made their way into the national team.

That notwithstanding, I think there were a few other names that should have merited a place in the team. I feel Agyemang-Badu, Richmond Boakye-Yiadom and David Accam should have been in that squad due to their consistent club form.

For the call-ups that surprised me, I think Ati Zigi ranks top for me. All in all, I think every call-up is justified, and Kwesi Appiah can only be a happy man because in this short while he has managed to bring competition into the Black Stars squad – something that was lacking under Grant.

Yaw Ofosu Larbi (TV3)

It is a fair reflection of the best we have. I think these are the players we can call ad it is not like we can call an entire set of players. I expected more local players but in the Black Stars B Game they did not do too good for themselves. Generally I think it’s a good squad and they would be good enough for the two games against Congo

Thomas Freeman Yeboah (Pulse Sports)

It was a good selection but it lacks experience in midfield. There was no Wakaso, Afriyie Acquah and Agyemang Badu.

This means the trio would have to do something special to return to Kwesi Appiah’s team. For Wakaso and Badu it looks like they are becoming outsiders in Kwesi Appiah’s team since they have been snubbed in both call-ups, after the return of the 56-year-old gaffer.

Adam Kwarasey’s omission is something I am yet to know the reason for that. He is the most inform Ghanaian goalkeeper, earning regular football in Norway with Valeranga. Ghana are yet to solve our goalkeeping problems, hence there was the need to get an experienced goalie in the person of Adam Kwarasey.

Lawrence Atizigi’s inclusion in the goalkeeping department has been long overdue, because he is a talented youngster and the Black Stars would need him when it comes to a player who would man the post for a long period of time, hence he needs to start gathering the experience now.