2025 AFCONQ: Forson Amankwah earns late call-up

Ghanaian midfielder Forson Amankwah has earned a late call-up to the Black Stars for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

The 21-year-old, who initially missed out on the 23-man squad announced by head coach Otto Addo last Thursday, was later included after being placed on standby.

Addo, the German-born Ghanaian coach, hinted at Amankwah’s potential inclusion in future squads, saying, “Our decision was that he will be on standby this time, but maybe he will come next time.”

Amankwah’s journey to this call-up has been marked by resilience. The Norwich City midfielder had sustained a suspected dislocated shoulder during the first half of Norwich’s 4-0 defeat at Selhurst Park last Tuesday. The injury raised concerns about his availability for both club and country.

However, further tests conducted on Wednesday brought relief as they revealed that surgery would not be necessary. Showing remarkable determination, Amankwah resumed training promptly and even featured in Norwich’s 1-0 victory over Coventry City on Saturday, where he played 45 minutes.

Since joining Norwich City from RB Salzburg, Amankwah has made an immediate impact at Carrow Road, recording two assists in six appearances. His performance has caught the attention of both his club and the national team selectors, leading to this well-deserved call-up.

Amankwah will now join the Black Stars, who have already begun their training camp in Accra ahead of the crucial AFCON qualifiers. This marks his second call-up to the national team, following his inclusion in the squad for the friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda in March.

The Black Stars are set to kick off their AFCON qualifying campaign with a home match against Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on September 5th.

Following that, they will travel to Morocco to face Niger on September 9th. Amankwah’s presence adds depth to the squad as they aim to secure early qualification for the 2025 AFCON tournament.