Columbus Crew SC today announced that two of its players have received senior National Team call-ups ahead of the upcoming FIFA window: Harrison Afful (Ghana) and Rodrigo Saravia (Guatemala). Afful was called up in advance of qualification matches for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, while Saravia was called up ahead of CONCACAF qualification matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Afful and Ghana are slated to play two matches against Mozambique as part of Group H play in qualification. The Black Stars host Mozambique in Accra on March 24 before traveling to face Os Mambas in Maputo on March 27. Ghana is currently atop Group H after previously registering victories against Mauritius and Rwanda in group play. The defender has earned 58 caps for Ghana during his career with his last appearance for the team coming on November 17 as part of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Saravia has earned a call-up from Guatemala in advance of La Azul y Blanco taking on the United States in back-to-back matches as part of CONCACAF qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Guatemala faces the Stars & Stripes in Guatemala City on March 25 before traveling to Columbus to play the United States at MAPFRE Stadium on March 29 in a contest presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance. Guatemala is currently in third place in Group C of Fourth Round qualification. Saravia earned his first cap for Guatemala in a friendly against Honduras on February 10, 2016, shortly after officially signing with Crew SC.
TICKETS FOR GUATEMALA/UNITED STATES AT MAPFRE STADIUM: http://bit.ly/USMNT329Tickets
Overall, of the 26 players currently on the Black & Gold active roster, 14 have received a senior National Team call-up throughout their careers (Afful, Corey Ashe, Conor Casey, Ethan Finlay, Waylon Francis, Kei Kamara, Ola Kamara, Emil Larsen, Cedrick Mabwati, Justin Meram, Michael Parkhurst, Saravia, Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp).
The Black & Gold continue the 2016 Major League Soccer regular season by opening a three-match road regular-season swing on Saturday at Chicago (5:00 p.m. ET / FOX-28, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, CD102.5 FM, La Mega 103.1 FM, English radio stream on ColumbusCrewSC.com).
