The Ghana coach announced the squad to the nation on Thursday at the Football Association headquarters in the capital Accra.

Accra / NationalTurk – Akwasi Appiah read the list out to a pack room of reporters both local and international with much confidence in his posture as he seeks to end the 31-year trophy drought of the Black Stars since the Black Stars won its fourth Nations Cup in 1982.

Olympique Marseille striker Jordan Ayew, defender Samuel Inkoom and AC Milan’s Sulley Muntari did not make the list as predicted by section of the local media.

Yahaya Mohammed of local side Tema based club Amidaus Professionals got the nod from Mr. Appiah to boost the attacking option of the team.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 after camping in Abu Dhabi next month in time for Caf’s deadline of January 9, 2013 for the team to submit its final squad.

Ghana is in group B with DR Congo and the West African duo of Niger and Mali and Ghana will have to engage them in a fierce contest to see which two teams qualify from the group.

 The 26-man Ghana squad for the African Cup of Nations

Goalkeepers

Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Fatau Dauda (AshantiGold, Ghana), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana)

Defenders

John Paintsil (Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Israel), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Mubarak Wakaso (Espanyol, Spain), Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana), John Boye (Rennes, France), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France), Isaac Vorsah (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor, Turkey), Rashid Sumaila (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Awal Mohammed (Maritzburg United, South Africa).

Midfielders

Andre Ayew (Marseille, France), Christian Atsu (FC Porto, Portugal), Anthony Annan (Osasuna, Spain), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Italy), Albert Adomah (Bristol City, England), Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France)

Strikers

Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE), Emmanuel Clottey (Esperance, Tunisia), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Sassoulo, Italy), Yahaya Mohammed (Amidaus Professionals, Ghana)

Issaka Adams/NationalTurk Africa Sports News

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