Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has named a provisional 26-man squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.Â
Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset) Age 26; 20 Caps.
Norwegian-born and a former Under-21 international who switched his allegiance to the land of his father in 2011, by playing his second game for Ghana against Brazil at Craven Cottage. Won the Norwegian League last year and was named the best goalkeeper after having lost his place in the Ghana starting line-up to Dauda. He is expected to be the first choice in Brazil.
Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates) Age 29; 16 caps.
Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars) Age 24; 0 caps.
Defenders:
Jefferey Schlupp (Leicester City)Â Â Age 21; 1 cap.Â
Once a striker now converted into a left-back, Schlupp’s pace and power has been key for Leicester City in their promotion to the English top flight as winners of the Championship.
He has to seize the chance to make the final 23-man squad and repose the confidence imposed in him by Kwesi Appiah.
Harrison Afful (Esperance) Age 27; 39 Caps.
Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor) Age 26 (on 2 May); 8 caps.
Ghana’s Defender of the Year in 2008 moved to Turkey after winning his award and disappeared from international view before being handed a first cap in 2012. Part of the squad at last year’s African Nations Cup finals but not yet able to establish himself as a first choice at centre back. His club in Ghana was Heart of Lions.
John Boye (Stade Rennes) Age 27; 29 caps.
Samuel Inkoom (Platanias) Age 24; 44 caps.
Jonathan Mensah (Evian Thonon Gaillard FC) Age 23; 23 caps.
Daniel Opare (Standard Liege) Age 23; 15 caps.
Midfielders:
Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough) Age 26; 13 caps.
Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese) Age 23; 47 caps.
Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus) Age 25; 59 caps.
Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem) Age 22; 21 caps.
Tricky left winger who Chelsea bought from FC Porto on a five-year contract at the start of the season and then shipped to Vitesse Arnhem in the Dutch league on loan. His speed and technical ability have been widely acclaimed. Scored twice in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Had his football education at the Feyenoord academy in Ghana.
Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille) Age 24; 45 caps.
Returned last September after an international exile of some two years and made an immediate impact in the heart of midfield despite lacking game time with Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan over the last five seasons. He curtailed his international career after twice suffering serious injury on national team duty. Famous for his love of sleep, sometimes up to 12 hours daily.
Made his international debut in 2002 as 17-year-old and played at the last two World Cup finals in Germany and South Africa, but was left out of the 2013 African Nations Cup finals in a surprise decision. His honours include two Serie A championship successes plus a lead role when Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008. Possesses a fearsome left foot and takes most of Ghana’s set-pieces. Has scored 21 international goals but his temper is often a problem with a litany of red cards through his career and a suspension for man-handling a referee in Italy.
Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan) Age 23; 16 caps. A graduate of the Ghana Under-17 side, who competed at the world championship in 2005, coming into his own in the senior side at last year’s African Nations Cup finals. Moved to Spain in 2008 before being sold last summer by Espanyol to Russia. Younger brother Alhassan Wakaso plays in Portugal.
Skillful and fast on the ball, Accam has emerged as top talent this term for Helsingborg. His ten goals in all competitions helped to gatecrash Ghana World Cup squad.
Forwards:
Born in France when his father was helping Marseille to win the European Cup. A teenage debutant with the Phoenician club for whom he has played more than 100 times – mostly alongside brother Dede -- before being sent to Sochaux on loan in January, where he quickly ran into disciplinary problems. Similar issues have restricted his appearances for Ghana, who left him out of the 2013 Nations Cup finals squad.
German-born to a Ghanaian father who declared for the Black Stars on the eve of the last World Cup finals, and then achieved the extraordinary feat of playing against his half-brother when Germany beat Ghana in Johannesburg. But he "quit" the Ghana team before the 2012 Nations Cup to avoid playing at the tournament only to return on the brink of 2014 World Cup qualification last year. His heavily tattooed physique has helped fuel a healthy tabloid interest in his oft-turbulent lifestyle.
Has scored a record 38 goals for his country but is best remembered for his miss in their 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay, when he blasted a last gasp penalty over the bar. Had he scored Ghana would have become the first African side to reach a World Cup semifinal. Suffered much derision after the incident and quit the national side for a while thereafter. Back now captaining the team, having scored six goals in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
English-educated after starting his career as a 12-year-old at an academy in Ghana with strong links to Manchester United. Moved to Sweden, then Spartak Moscow and has been on loan at Ligue 1 club Valenciennes since January. He debuted for Ghana in 2012 and scored three goals in the World Cup qualifiers.