Liberty Professionals captain Samuel Sarfo has bemoaned the absence of former Liberty striker Latif Blessing from the final 23-man squad list for the AFCON 2017 scheduled to kick-off in Gabon this month.

Speaking to Kumasi-based Ashh FM sports team, the defender who doubles as a police officer noted his disappointment on the exclusion of Latif Blessing who recently won the best player award in Ghana Premier League from the Ghana squad at the African Cup of Nations tournament.

According to the Samuel Sarfo who is affectionately called Maldini, the young striker deserved to be on the squad by merit arguing that he personally witnessed the senior national team's training sessions in which Blessing excelled.

"I was glad to hear the initial call up. I knew he would be called up because he was spectacular during the league campaign together with guys like Akwesi Donsu, Inusah Musah and  Bashiru. All these players should tell you that our league was on of the best compared to previous ones...The technical handlers know best and they know the criteria they use in making the selections"

"Talk about Latif alone, I personally watched his performance training with the Black Stars and everybody who came to watch the training sessions saw that he excelled but Avram Grant is the only person who knows why he was not selected. But if you look at the kind of performance he put up you realise that he deserved to make the squad" he lamented

He was quick to note that Latif will get over the snub as this is not the first time he has faced rejection.

Sarfo revealed that the potent striker has been rejected by Asante Kotoko in the past and will continue to work harder.

"This is not the first time. Latif has been rejected by the great Kotoko in the past and he will continue with his good works despite the shortfall" the footballer and police officer said.

The 20 year old has signed an MLS contract through 2019 with an option for 2020 and will occupy an international spot on Sporting Kansas City’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 visa.

Blessing was named the 2016 Ghana Premier League player of the year after leading the top flight with 17 goals in his first season on the senior team. He was also a finalist for the 2016 Ghanaian FA Cup most valuable player award, helping Liberty Professionals reach the semifinals of the knockout competition.

By Musah Abelyire/ghanaguardian.com