2023 AFCON qualifiers: Columbus Crew skipper Jonathan Mensah to join Black Stars today

Columbus Crew skipper Jonathan Mensah is expected to join the rest of the Black Stars players today for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Barea of Madagascar and Central African Republic in June.

The 31-year-old together his club teammate Yaw Yeboah were both named in coach Otto Addo’s 33-man squad for the crucial qualifiers as well as a four-nation tournament that features Japan, Chile and Tunisia as part of the build up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in November.

The duo was in action for Crew as they defeated Atlanta United 2-0 in the 2022 MLS regular season on Saturday.

Mensah lasted the entire duration of the game as he bagged his goal of the season at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

The former Ashanti Gold defender has 13 league appearances for Columbus Crew, scored one goal and provided one assist in the process.

His compatriot Yaw Yeboah lasted 53 minutes of the game.

Twenty-eight players out of the 33 players called up took part in Sunday’s training session at the Cape Coast Stadium ahead of Ghana’s first AFCON qualifier.

Defenders Daniel Amartey and Dennis Odoi, as well as Daniel Kofi Kyereh, were the latest to link up with the squad to prepare for the game

The team held a gym session on Sunday morning before being taken through their paces on the pitch in the evening.

Ghana host Madagascar on Wednesday, June 1 in the first game with kick-off scheduled at 19:00GMT before flying to the Central African Republic for the second game of the qualifiers on Sunday.