David Addy one of the casualties of coach akwasi Appiah's squad

Coach Akwasi Appiah has refused to give detailed reasons as to why certain players failed to make his provisional Ghana squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Jordan Ayew, Abdul Majeed Waris and David Addy were the major casualties in the 26-man provisional Black Stars squad for the tournament that kicks off on January 19 in South Africa.

Ayew has found his scoring boots for Marseille in the French Ligue 1 while Waris has moved to Russian giants Spartak Moscow after emerging the Goal King in the just ended Swedish League.

Addy on the other hand has been a consistent performer this season in Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes.

The trio’s exclusion from the squad have already generated heated debates as to the reasons they were dropped.

But coach Appiah refuses to be drawn into this debate.

“I don’t think it is advisable to pin-point players and ask why they are not in the squad,” he said.

“Ghana as you know have a lot of players but for now these are the ones I believe we need for the Nations Cup.

“I therefore urge you to give your support to the team.”

Appiah’s comment has however come under intense media scrutiny with many analysts second-guessing why some players were not given the opportunity over others.

The former Ghana captain however remains resolute in his conviction that this is the team of players he needs to deliver the nations Cup title after a painful 31-year wait.

“All the players I have selected I have absolute confidence in them,” he said at the press briefing on Thursday.

“I have given a lot of players the opportunity but for now I think these are the players I need to be successful at the Nations Cup.”

The team will begin a non-residential camping early January before traveling to Abu Dhabi for the intensive pre-Nations Cup camp.

The Black Stars will play Egypt and Tunisia in friendly matches on the 10^th and 13^th January respectively but three players will be dropped in between the games to make the final squad for the tournament.

Ghana is drawn in Group B alongside DR Congo, Mali and Niger and will be based in Port Elizabeth.

Ghana’s provisional 2013 AFCON squad:

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey, Fatau Dauda and Daniel Agyei.

Defenders: John Paintsil, Richard Kissi-Boateng, John Boye, Isaac Vorsah, Rashid Sumaila, Jerry Akaminko and Awal Mohammed.

Midfielders: Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Anthony Annan, Mubarak Wakaso, Albert Adomah, Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew and Rabiu Mohammed.

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan, Richmond Boakye-Yiadom, Emmanuel Clottey and Yahaya Mohammed.