John Antwi: Ghana’s Goal Machine Blacklisted From The Black Stars

 

If strikers are judged by goals then Ghana’s John Antwi has a legitimate right to demand answers from the handlers of the national team for his consistent absence from the Black Stars.  A serial goal monger and a record scorer for foreign players in the Egyptian top flight sums up the rampant nature of the forward despite his conspicuous absence on the international level. The latest blacklist is the squad released for the Kenya clash that has little or immaterial bearings on the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.

Having already qualified for the 2019 continental football fiesta, many a fan on the Ghanaian soil expected some changes to be made to the Black Stars ahead of the Kenya clash slated for Saturday March 23, 2019 at the Accra Sports stadium. It was a change expected to enroll new faces into the Black Stars less than four months to the AFCON Championship. The technical team of the Black Stars was expected to extend their scouting network into the African continent and other Ghanaian players not plying their trade in the mainstream of European football. Did they really consider form in the latest call up? Asante Kotoko’s trio of Amos Frimpong, Kwame BOnsu and Felix Annan might provide escape route for them.

Having already smashed the record for most scored by a foreign player on Egyptian soil with his 63rd strike in the division, John Antwi is synonymous to goals in the North African country. His goal scoring prowess has never been in doubt and with the AFCON destined to be staged on same soil he is plying his trade, why not placing some trust on the Mikr Al Makasah’s center forward? Is the Egyptian Premier League that far behind the English League One?

 On the statistical radar, three of the attacking quartet invited for the Kenya clash accounted for 6 goals in 45 matches. Put in perspective, 10 goals from 69 matches sum up the attacking numbers of the invited players for the Kenya clash.  John Antwi, accounted for 9 goals in his 20 appearances for a struggling Mikr Al Makasa side in the Egyptian premier league.

Jordan Ayew, a perennial bench warmer or at best super sub, has been as consistent as any player in the camp of the Black Stars. His quick feet and need for telepathy at the national team makes sense in his case but to overlook a record goal scorer with a knack for goals in a qualifier of little importance equally raises the red flag.

Caleb Ekuban saw the back the net on 4 occasions in 20 matches in the Turkish domestic campaign. It was enough to earn him a place in the team for the Harambe Stars game.

Emmanuel Boateng can’t quite remember the last time he shook the back of the net with one goal in 17 appearances or 8 goals in his 50 matches for Levane UD. He has carved a niche in the camp of the Black Stars.

Kwesi Appiah has 4 goals in 24 outings in the third tier of English football but had done enough to convince the technical team of Black Stars. 

Pundits and followers alike will highlight the need for consistency in the camp of a national team but must that come at the cost of in-form attackers?  Take a look at the numbers below and make your own judgment

John Antwi – Misr Lel Makkase 
Played: 20
Goals: 9 goals 

Not Invited
 Caleb Ekuban – Trabzonspor 
Played: 20 
Goals: 4 

Invited
 Emmanuel Boateng – Levante & Dalien Yifang 
Played: 17 
Goals: 1

Invited
 Jordan Ayew – Crystal Palace
Played: 18
Goals: 1 goal

Invited

Kwesi Appiah –Wimbledon

Played -24(league)

Scored -4

Invited