Yartey, Atsu named in Ghana squad, Paintsil axed

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah has handed two in-form youngsters Ishmael Yartey and Christian Atsu their debut call-ups for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zambia.

John Paintsil has been left out of the squad for the first time in many years after being inactive since the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Europe-based youngsters Ishmael Yartey and Christian Atsu were among the six players who were handed their maiden Black Stars call-ups.

Nine home-based players were also named in the squad with Berekum Chelsea trio of Ernest Sowah, Emmanuel Clottey and Richard Kissi Boateng included.

The team will start a non-residential camp in Accra on 21 May, 2012.

The squad will be pruned down before the team departs to Kumasi on 27^th May ahead of the match against Lesotho on 1^st June, 2012.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Robert Dabuo (Wa All Stars), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Richard Kissi Boateng (Berekum Cheslea), Masawudu Alhassan (Genoa, Italy), John Boye (Rennes, France), Lee Addy (Dalian Aerbin, China), Daniel Addo (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Rashid Sumaila (Dwarfs), Jerry Akaminko (Manisaspor, Turkey), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese , Italy), Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France) Richard Mpong (Medema) Albert Adomah (Bristol City, England), Christian Atsu (Rio Ave, Portugal), Ishamel Yartey, (Servette, Switzerland), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy).

Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Arsenal Kyiv, Ukraine), Ben Acheampong (Kotoko), Emmanuel Baffour (New Edubiase), Emmanuel Clottey (Berekum Chelsea).