Ghana’s Black Stars Squad Announced

Michael Essien will seek to put the disappointment of the UEFA Champions League final behind him when he joins up with Ghana’s Black Stars squad on Tuesday as they prepare for their opening World Cup™ qualifier. Ghana host Libya in their Group Five match at the Baba Yaro stadium in Kumasi seeking a positive start as they aim for a second successive World Cup™ finals appearance. Having returned from a friendly in Australia, the bulk of the squad are supplemented by the likes of Essien, Sulley Muntari and goalkeeper Richard Kingson, who did not make the trip down under. Essien was part of the Chelsea team who lost on post-match penalties to fellow English side Manchester United in the Champions League final in Moscow while Muntari is fresh from celebrating success in the FA Cup final with Portsmouth. Returning to the squad is Dutch-based striker Matthew Amoah, who was injured for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year, but Asamoah Gyan and Hans Sarpei are both injured. The Ghana side is led by caretaker coach Sellas Tetteh, who has taken over from Frenchman Claude LeRoy. SQUAD: Goalkeepers: William Amamoo (Vasalund, Sweden) Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England) George Owu (Al Masry, Egypt) Defenders: Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands) David Addy (Wa All Stars) Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko) Kofi Amponsah (Apollon Kalamarias, Greece) Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht, Netherlands) John Mensah (Stade Rennes, France) John Paintsil (West Ham United, England) Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Stabaek, Norway) Prince Buaben (Dundee Utd, Scotland) Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Laryea Kingston (Hearts of Midlothian, Scotland) Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England) Strikers: Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England) Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Berekum Arsenal) Matthew Amoah (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands) Emmanuel Banahene (Heart of Lions) Eric Bekoe (Asante Kotoko) Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain)