Kwadwo Asamoah has confirmed that he will play in midfield for the Black Stars at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The 30-year-old’s possible playing role with the Black Stars at the tournament had become a major topic of discussion.

Asamoah, who made his breakthrough as a midfielder with Italian club Udinese and Ghana at the 2010 Africa Cup and Fifa World Cup, has played at left-back for most of the last six years.

“I’m a player that can play in so many roles on the field of play: I can be a midfielder, I can also support the attack, I can play at left-back and also left forward,” he told TV3.

“I spoke with the [Ghana] coach [James Appiah] and told him he knows the qualities that I have and what I can do for this national team.



“So we shared an idea and I told him he knows perfectly when I come to the midfield, I excel more than playing from the back because African football is totally different from [that of] Europe.”

Asamoah’s role on the left side of defence began during his time under Antonio Conte at Juventus.

At new club Internazionale, he is mainly deployed at the back.

“In Europe, the way we play depends on how the coach wants us to play but with African football, it’s more physical and there is no space, so with me playing from left-back, I will not find it easy,” Asamoah continued.

“So with what people know and what I know and what everyone knows, when it comes to the national team, I am always good when I play from the midfield so he also accepted and said ‘I will try and play you from the midfield’ but in any situation or any case when we need help from the left-back I’m always there.”



Asamoah’s only left back stint for Ghana was at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil where the Black Stars exited the competition in the group stage.

Ghana have been drawn against Cameroon, Benin, and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage of the upcoming Afcon.

Source: ghanasoccernet

Namibia beat Ghana Black Stars 1-0 in an AFCON warm-up friendly game thanks to Manfred Starke’s first-half strike.

Ghana and Namibia played the friendly game behind closed doors, only one camera was allowed for video analysis of both teams.

Manfred Starke opened the scoring in the opening few minutes of the game to put Namibia in front after Ati Zigi fails to hold an earlier shot.

Ghana Black Stars stepped up after the goal but failed to find the back of the net in the first 45 minutes of the game.

Ghana had a penalty in the start of the second half but Mubarak Wakaso effort hit the upright before going out of play.

Midfielder Thomas Partey had an opportunity to restore parity but his effort was saved comfortably by the Namibian goalkeeper.

Ghana Black Stars began training for the 2019 AFCON in their camp in Dubai.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey joined the team yesterday.

Ghana Black Stars training ahead of the 2019 AFCON pic.twitter.com/rAo5VQvGx1

— Sahara Football (@SaharaFootball) June 4, 2019

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— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) June 4, 2019

#AFCON2019 Assistant Coach Ibrahim Tanko is taking the team through their beach warm up session #BlackStars2019 pic.twitter.com/ZDjzn5xTLy

— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) June 4, 2019

Black Stars of Ghana have arrived in Dubai and will begin preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations today.

The players were welcomed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

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Team Ghana is expected to arrive in Egypt for the tournament on June 20, five days before their opening Group F match against the Squirrels of Benin at the Ismailia Stadium.

Goalkeepers

Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United, South Africa, Lawrence Ati- Zigi  (Sochaux, Montbeliard, France), and Felix Annan  (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).

Defenders

John Boye (Metz, France), Andy Yiadom (Reading, England), Abdul Baba Rahman (Reims, France), Lumor Agbenyenu (Goztepe A.S, Turkey),  Kassim Nuhu, (Hoffeinham, Germany,) Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew SC, USA), Joseph Aidoo (Genk, Belguim), Nuhu Musa (St Gallen, Switzerland), Joseph Attamah (Basaksehir, Turkey), and Mohammed Alhassan (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)

Midfielders

Mubarak Wakaso (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Internazionle, Italy), Ebenezer Ofori (New York FC, USA), Afriyie Acquah  (Empoli, Italy), Andre Ayew ( Fenerbache, Turkey),  Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, England), Samuel Owusu (Cukaricki, Serbia), Thomas Agyepong (Hibernian, Scotland), Yaw Yeboah (Numancia, Spain),  Abdul Fatawu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).

Strikers

Asamoah Gyan (Kayserispor, Turkey), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England),  Abdul Majeed Waris ( Nantes, France), Caleb Ekuban  (Trabzonspor, Turkey) and Kwabena  Owusu (Leganes, Spain).