Christian Atsu has been selected in Ghana’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil.
The 22-year-old attacker, capable of playing as a winger or a second striker, made the cut after Kwesi Appiah, the Ghana coach, trimmed his squad today (Sunday).
Atsu joined Chelsea from Porto on 1 September 2013. He then spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, where he was voted the club’s Player of the Year by supporters.
He played the first half of Ghana’s 1-0 loss to the Netherlands last night, and earlier this week struck a hat-trick against a local select side at the Accra Stadium.
Atsu has 22 caps for Ghana and has scored five goals. He is joined in the squad by our former midfielder Michael Essien, with former Premier League players Sulley Muntari, Asamoah Gyan and Kevin-Prince Boateng also selected. Atsu is one of 16 World Cup debutants among the 23.
Ghana open their World Cup campaign against USA on 16 June.
The full squad is:
Fatau Dauda, Adam Kwarasey, Stephen Adams; Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Rashid Sumalia; Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Adriyie Acquah, Christian Atsu, Albert Adomah, Andre Ayew, Mubarek Wakaso; Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Abdul Majeed Waris, Jordan Ayew.