Amankwah Forson has joined up with the Ghana national team despite being omitted from the initial squad.
After getting the late call, the Norwich City midfielder has flown to Accra to link up with the rest of the squad that includes West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, Arsenal’s Thomas Partey, and Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey.
Forson was initially omitted from Otto Addo’s 23-man squad for two upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers, instead being placed on standby. His emergency call-up arrived after Auxurre’s Elisha Owusa sustained an injury in their final Ligue 1 game before the break against Le Havre.
Mohammed Diomande has also been named in the squad but, owing to delays to the naturalisation process, is unlikely to be handed many minutes. That leaves Ghana light on midfield options, fuelling the decision to call the 21-year-old up at short notice.
It is Forson’s second international call-up after being handed his debut for Ghana back in March for friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda. Former City boss Chris Hughton named him in the provisional squad for the 2023 AFCON.
Forson was one of City’s eight summer additions, moving to England in a near £4m move from Austrian side RB Salzburg. He has impressed with early performances, recording two assists in six matches for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side.
There was some doubt over Forson’s availability last week after dislocating his shoulder in a 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Premier League side Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Amankwah Forson suffered a dislocated shoulder in last week’s cup exit to Crystal Palace.
Further post-match assessment showed that surgery wasn’t required, and the Ghanian was passed fit enough to start in Saturday’s victory over Coventry. That episode was the reason Addo opted against including Forson in his initial squad.
“He injured himself in the last match,” Addo said last week. “My assistant coach Joseph Laumann is in contact with him. He will be on standby this time, but maybe next time he will come.”
Ghana will kickstart their qualification process against Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Thursday, September 5, before travelling to Morocco to face Niger on Monday, September 9, 2024.
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