2022 World Cup qualifiers: Hearts of Oak’s Richard Attah and Afriyie Barnieh earn Black Stars call up for Ethiopia and South Africa games

Hearts of Oak have dominated with two out of the four home-based players named in Charles Akonnor’s 30-man squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month. 

The Phobians deserve to have the most home-based players simply they were the best team in the just-concluded season. They won every trophy available as they were crowned champions of the Ghana Premier League and beat AshantiGold in the MTN FA Cup winners.

And two players, who played vital roles in their double success goalkeeper Richard Attah and striker Daniel Afriyie Barnieh have been rewarded.

Attah kept a total of 16 clean sheets in all competitions while Barnieh netted 12 goals.

The other home-based players are defenders Ismail Ganiyu and Philemon Baffour of Asante Kotoko and Dreams FC respectively.

The team will open their qualification account at home against Ethiopia on September 3 and then four days later take on South Africa in Johannesburg.

Should Ghana top Group G ahead of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia they will progress to the third round of qualifiers.

The third round will see the 10 group winners from the second round drawn into five home-and-away ties. The winners of each tie will advance to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Ghana failed to qualify for the last tournament held in Russia after three straight appearances.