Home Sports German youth forward Jamie Leweling has rejected his debut Ghana call-up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan despite being named in the squad.
Sports - November 10, 2020

German youth forward Jamie Leweling has rejected his debut Ghana call-up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan despite being named in the squad.

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 Lewelling has refused to travel to the West African country amid uncertainty over nationality switch and family complications.

The 19-year-old, who plays for Bundesliga 2 side Greuther Furth,  was a surprising inclusion in a 23-man squad for the doubleheader against the Falcons of Jediane by Ghana coach Charles “CK” Akonnor.

But GHANAsoccernet.com can report that the youngster, who can also operate effectively on the wings, has declined the invitation over nationality doubt and family complications.

The forward fears he could be tie permanently to the West African giants, meaning any potential future plans to switch to the German national team will be complicated.

Lewelling has told his trusted agent and parents, he’s unwilling to travel to his father’s country of birth as he remains unsure about switching allegiance to Ghana.

He is caught between a rock and a hard place as he also fancies the German national team, having featured for the youth teams.

“The boy (Jamie Leweling) can’t honor the call up because it will be very complicated if he wants to switch back to represent Germany in any category of the national team if things don’t go well for him with Ghana,” a source told GHANAsoccernet.com last week.

“Jamie won’t come to Ghana because, after further explanation of issues surrounding his call-up, he has decided not to play for Ghana now due to several complications which are both sporting and personal.”

The youngster wants to continue his progression with the German after featuring for the U-19 and 20 levels.

Regarded as one of the future youngsters of German football, he has featured six times for the Kleeblatts this season and assisted once, appearing from the substitution bench in four of those games for the Fürth based team.

If he pulls out of the match, he may become the second player with Columbus Crew unwilling to release Harrison Afful. 

Lewelling, who was born in Nuremberg to a Ghanaian mother, was part of the professional squad at the “Kleeblatt” last season and is also a regular part of the first team this season.

The two-footed attacker was linked with Schalke 04, Tottenham Hotspur, and AC Milan in the summer. At least for this season, he decided to stay with the Franks, despite the interest.

This sparked the interest of Akonnor to call Leweling up for the upcoming matches but must apply to FIFA for a nationality switch before he can play for the Black Stars since he has played for the junior national teams of Germany.

As part of the process, Leweling must apply to the German federation for a letter to confirm his appearances for the junior national team of the European country.

However, even if Leweling played for Ghana in a competitive match, he would not be lost for the German national team according to the latest FIFA regulations.

Players up to the age of 21 can therefore only play for a nation from their fourth appearance – or if they take part in the finals of a continental competition or the World Cup.

There must be a period of three years between assignments for one country and the other. At the age of 22, Leweling could choose the German team again if he plays for Ghana now, but not afterward. The current FIFA regulations explained.

 

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