Black Satellites head coach, Karim Zito says Hearts of Oak forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh should have been named as a part of Milovan Rajevac's 28 players for AFCON 2021.

Milo's return to the Black Stars happened at a time where the Satellites finessed the rest of the continent, emerging as African U-20 champions for the third time. And just as it happened in 2010, some members of the U-20 team which conquered the rest of the world to become Africa's first U-20 side to win the World Cup made it into Rajevac's squad.

In 2010, it was Agyemang Badu and current Black Stars captian, Dede Ayew. Now Dreams duo Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Philemon Baffour, both members of the U-20 side which triumphed against Uganda in last year's u20 AFCON, made the cut for Milo's side.

Barnieh, who captained the side and won the man of the match award in the final, was excluded from both the preliminary and final squad lists for the competition and Zito believes the forward should have been considered.

"If he [Milo] had consulted me I'll have added Barnieh, seriously. But he's the coach, what he felt is not what I'm feeling. I have my criteria in doing my selections, he also has his criteria. Maybe these two [Baffour and Issahaku] fell in his way of scouting his players. I scouted them for u20 before I scout you, first I look at the talent, awareness with and without the ball, physical appearance and then mental toughness," Zito said in a JoySports interview.

Jordan Ayew, Richard Boakye-Yiadom, Benjamin Tetteh and Great Olympic's Maxwell Abbey Quaye are amongst forwards called up by Milo for the tournament. In total, five local players; Abbey Quaye, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Richard Attah, David Abagna and Philemon Baffour made the list to Cameroon.

The Black Stars suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Morocco in their opening game of AFCON 2021. A few minutes to end the game, Boufal latched unto a lose ball in Ghana's six-yard box to finish past Wollacott.

Ghana will look to bounce back versus Gabon in their next game.