The Italy-based centre-forward has declined an invitation from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to represent the West African nation at the U-23 level for the upcoming qualifiers.
US Cremonese striker Felix Afena-Gyan was among the foreign-based players invited the Black Meteors — U23 team — by Head Coach Ibrahim Tanko for the 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifiers double-header against Algeria this month.
A source at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) disclosed that an invitation was sent to Italian Serie A side US Cremonese for the release of the 20-year-old attacker to play for the Black Meteors in the all-important fixtures against Algeria.
Interestingly, an email from the Italian club to the Ghana FA indicated that Afena-Gyan declined the call-up to feature for the Ghana U23 team in the final qualification round slated for the month.
“It is never true that Felix Afena-Gyan wasn’t invited to the U23 team. He was among the ten foreign based players but he declined the invitation from the GFA,” the source said as reported Kickgh.com
“We don’t know the reason behind his decision not to honour the invitation, maybe he will explain to us later. We’re hoping to secure a positive results in Algeria and climax it with a qualification in Kumasi,”
In spite of the former AS Roma starlet’s decision not to honour the U23 invitation, eight based foreign-based players namely Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Salim Adams, Zubairu Ibrahim, Salim Adams, Alex Sarfo, Emmanuel Essiam, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Emmanuel Yeboah have all arrived in Black Meteors camp for the all-important assignment.
The team is expected to leave the shores of Ghana tonight to the City of Annaba, venue for Friday’s first leg tie, followed by the return leg in Kumasi four days later.
The U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which serves as qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games, will take place in Morocco in June of this year.
