Ghana have recalled Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori to their squad after injury robbed him of any chance of competing at last year’s World Cup in Qatar as coach Chris Hughton finalised his squad for the decisive Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday.
Ghana host the Central African Republic in Kumasi and need to avoid defeat to ensure that they go through to the finals in neighbouring Ivory Coast next January.
Ofori is one of nine changes to the squad that drew 0-0 in Madagascar in their last Group E game in June.
Thomas Partey has fallen out but there is a first call-up for Jonathan Sowah from Mediema, who will be the only locally-based player in the 25-man squad. He is the top striker in this season’s Ghanaian Premier League.
Ofori returns after knee issues blighted his last season and comes despite the fact he is no longer first choice at his club. He replaces Joe Wollacott in the squad.
Veteran Baba Abdul Rahman returns in defence along with the German-born pair of Stephan Ambrosius and Kingsley Schindler with Daniel Amartey and Denis Odoi dropped.
Baba Iddrissu, Ransford Koningsdorffer and Elisha Owusu are back into the midfield mix, where Partey will be a major absence, while Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo also returns.
Ghana sit top of the group with nine points, one ahead of second placed Angola, who host Madagascar in Lubango on Thursday. The Central African Republic are on seven and if they beat Ghana will qualify for a first ever tournament appearance. Madagascar are already eliminated.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen, Switzerland), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (KAS Eupen, Belgium), Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK Salonika, Greece), Stephan Ambrosius (Karlsruhe, Germany), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo, Spain), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre, France), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens, France), Alidu Seidu (Clermont Foot, France), Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor, Turkey)
Midfielders: Salis Abdul Samed (Racing Lens, France), Edmund Addo, Osman Bukari (both Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Baba Iddrissu (Almeria, Spain), Ransford Koningsdorffer (Hamburg SV, Germany), Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United, England), Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyonnais, France), Elisha Owusu (AJ Auxerre, France), Joseph Painstil (Racing Genk, Belgium)
Forwards: André Ayew (unattached), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England), Jonathan Sowah (Mediema), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao, Spain).