New Werder Bremen signing Boubacar Sanogo was called up to the Ivory Coast team for next week's friendly against Egypt in Paris, the forward replacing the injured Aruna Dindane.
Sanogo, who moved to Bremen from Hamburg in a 6 million euro deal last month, joins fellow German based players Guy Demel and Steve Gohouri in a return to the team after missing June's African Nations Cup qualifiers against Madagascar.
The 24 year old forward has picked up only one cap for a team where Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou lead the attack and where Olympique Lyon's Abdelkader Keita and Arouna Kone of PSV Eindhoven also struggle for regular action.
Also back in the team named by coach Uli Stielike Friday, is Swiss based midfielder Gilles Yapi Yapo.
Both Egypt and the Ivorians are using the match as preparation for decisive African Nations Cup qualifiers next month.
Squad:
Goalkeepers, Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Stephan Loboue (SpVgg Greuther Furth, Germany)
Ghana coach Claude Le Roy has given Marseille midfielder Andre 'Dede' Ayew his 1st call up to the Black Stars.
The 17 year old, son of Ghana legend Abedi 'Pele', was named in a 20 man team for the friendly against Senegal.
The French coach also handed a debut to Inter Milan forward Mario Barwuah Balotelli for the game which will be played in London on 21 August.
Barwuah was born in Italy however he is still eligible to play for the Black Stars as he has Ghanaian parents.
The 16 year old, who was recently promoted to the 1st team of the Serie A giants, was unable to answer several call-ups to Italy's junior national teams.
Another teenager to receive his maiden invite is defender Yahaya Mohammed, who recently joined of French Ligue 1 side Nice.
Even though Ghana are the hosts of the 2008 African Cup of Nations, football authorities in the west African country are also keen on the 2010 World Cup.
"Following comprehensive monitoring of all our players both home and abroad our coach has decided to give these exciting 3 players their 1st Black Stars call," Ghana FA vice president Fred Pappoe informed BBC Sport.
"Over the past few years we have built a strong national team and it is time to add youngsters who can hold the forth not only for today however the future too as well. It is not only the continuation of our team building process for our hosting of the Nations Cup next year and also for the 2010 World Cup and beyond. There are others who are also being closely monitored by the coach and at the appropriate time they will get their chance to represent the country."
Captain Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Junior Agogo and Joe Tex Frimpong, who missed the friendly against Brazil in March, return to the team after recuperating from injuries.
Senegal will be using the game to are preparing for their must win final Nations Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso next month.
Squad,
Goalkeepers, Sammy Adjei (Mohadon Sports Ashdod, Israel), Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England)
Defenders, Hans Adu Sarpie (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht, Holland), Illiasu Alhassan (Saturn FC, Russia) John Mensah (Rennes, France) Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) Yahaya Mohammed (Nice, France)
Midfielders, Stephen Appiah (Fenerbache, Turkey) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland) Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England) Haminu Draman (Lokomotiv Moskva, Russia) Andre Ayew ( Marseille, France)
Forwards, Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Mario Barwuah (Inter Milan, Italy) Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy) Joe Tex Frimpong (BSC Young Boys, Switzerland) and Razak Pimpong (Viking, Norway).
03 August 2007
Draw for the 2nd qualifying round of the UEFA Cup made by UEFA at their headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland Friday:
Otelul Galati (Romania) v Lokomotiv Sofia (Bulgaria)
CFR Cluj (Romania) v Anorthosis (Cyprus)
Rabotnicki (Macedonia) v Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)/
Zrinjski Mostar (Bosnia) *
Slaven (Croatia) v Galatasaray (Turkey)
Uniao Leiria (Portugal) v Maccabi Netanya (Israel)
Hajduk Split (Croatia) v Sampdoria (Italy)
Besa Kavaje (Albania) v Litex Lovech (Bulgaria)
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) v Kayserispor (Turkey)
Atletico Madrid (Spain) v Vojvodina (Serbia)
Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia) v Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)
Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) v CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria)
Basel (Switzerland) v Mattersburg (Austria)
Ried (Austria) v FC Sion (Switzerland)
MIKA (Armenia) v Artmedia (Slovakia)
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine) v Belchatow (Poland)
Honved (Hungary) v Hamburg SV (Germany)
Young Boys (Switzerland) v Racing Lens (France)
Tobol Kostanai (Kazakhstan) v Groclin (Poland)
Austria Vienna (Austria) v Jablonc (Czech Republic)
Zlate Moravce (Slovakia) v Zenit St Petersburg (Russia)
Rapid Vienna (Austria) v Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)
MyPa Myllykoski (Finland) v Blackburn Rovers (England)
Drogheda United (Ireland) v Helsingborg (Sweden)
Metalurgs (Latvia) v AIK (Sweden)
HJK Helsinki (Finland) v AaB Aalborg (Denmark)
Ekranas (Lithuania) v Valerenga (Norway)
Dunfermline Athletic (Scotland) v Haecken (Sweden)
Brann Bergen (Norway) v Suduva (Lithuania)
Haka Valkeakoski (Finland) v Midtjylland (Denmark)
Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) v Odense (Denmark)
Kaerjeng (Luxembourg) v Standard Liege (Belgium)
Fredrikstad FK (Norway) v Hammarby (Sweden)
First leg ties to be played August 16, 2nd legs played August 30.
* Partizan won 1st round qualifying tie 11-1 on aggregate however are appealing against a one year-ban imposed after a fan riot during the 1st leg. If the appeal fails, Zrinjski Mostar will progress.
14 June 2007
Swiss champions FC Zurich have named former U21 national team coach Bernard Challandes as their new trainer.
Challandes, 55, led the Swiss youngsters to the semi-finals of the 2002 UEFA U21 European Championship, and was previously a club coach with Young Boys Berne, Yverdon and Servette Geneva.
In a statement on their official website, the club mentioned Challandes' work with young players had made him their "dream candidate".
Challandes, who signed a 3 year contract, takes over from Lucien Favre, who was last week bought by German Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin after steering Zurich to 2 successive Swiss league titles.
12 June 2007
AZ Alkmaar right back Gretar Steinsson is keen on a summer transfer to the Premier League, as stated by his agent.
Jerry de Koning thinks the 25 year old would do well in England after he was linked with a summer move to Boro.
"Gretar has had a wonderful time at AZ however his ultimate dream is to play in England," De Koning informed Voetbal International.
"It might be that the English way of playing football is more his cup of tea."
Iceland international Steinsson joined AZ from Swiss side Young Boys 2 years ago and has gone on to make 45 Eredivisie appearances, scoring 5 goals.
