Ghana names provisional 2013 AFCON squad

Ghana has named a provisional 26-member squad for the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations.

Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah made public the squad on Thursday, more than a month to the opening match of the 29th edition of the continental showpiece football tournament fixed for 19 January to 10 February in South Africa.

There were no places for defender Samuel Inkoom, who plays for Ukrainian side Dnipro whilst Jordan Ayew youngest son of Ghana legend Abedi Pele, all members of the team for the previous tournament earlier this year.

Also left out was Abdul Majeed Warris, golden boot winner in the just ended Swedish elite division, with 23 goals.

Local sensation, Yahaya Mohamed, top scorer in the Ghana Premier League with eight goals from 10 matches made the squad, together with four other local-based players. Only 12-members of the provisional squad were part of the team that placed fourth at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

According to the Black Stars coach, the team will hold a training camp in the Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 7-16 January to fine tune for the tournament. However, Appiah will unveil his final 23-man squad on January 9.

On January 10, the Black Stars will face Egypt in an international friendly before engaging Tunisia three days later, both in Abu Dhabi.

Ghana is housed in Group B alongside DR Congo, Mali and Niger.

Goalkeepers: Adam Larsen Kwarasey (Stromgodset, Norway), Fatau Dauda (AshantiGold), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisai) Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Chelsea), Mubarak Wakaso (Espanyol, Spain), John Boye (Stade Rennes, France), Isaac Vorsah (Salzburg, Austria), Rashid Sumaila (Asante Kotoko), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France), Jerry Akaminko (Eskişehirspor, Turkey), Mohammed Awal (Maritzburg United, South Africa)

Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy), Anthony Annan (Osasuna, Spain), Rabiu Mohamed (Evian, France), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Italy), Solomon Asante (Berekum Chelsea), Albert Adomah (Bristol City, England), Christian Atsu (Porto, Portugal), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France)

Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Sassuolo, Italy), Emmanuel Clottey (Esperance, Tunisia), Yahaya Mohamed (Amidaus Professionals).