2014 World Cup - squad - Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah dropped big names

Leicester City defender Jeffery Schlupp has been picked in Ghana's preliminary 26-man World Cup squad. The Germany-born Schlupp has only one Ghana cap but his form helped Leicester win promotion to the Premier League. Helsingborg striker David Accam is another surprise inclusion, winning his place after a burst of 10 goals in 10 games for his Swedish club. 

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah dropped a number of big names, including ex-captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah. Michael Essien has been selected for his second World Cup after missing the 2010 tournament through injury, while Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari are on course to appear at the tournament for their third time.

The Black Stars will begin training in Accra on 20 May before travelling to Amsterdam for a friendly against Netherlands on 30 May.
Appiah says he will then prune down his squad to 23 players before heading to the United States of America for the final phase of preparations in Miami.

Ghana's final pre-World cup friendly will be against South Korea in Miami before the team arrives in Maceio, their World Cup base on 11 June, five days before their world cup opener against USA. They will also face Germany and Portugal in Group G.

Goalkeepers: 

Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates)

Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset)

Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: 

Samuel Inkoom (Platanias)

Daniel Opare (Standard Liege)

Harrison Afful (Esperance)

Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester)

John Boye (Rennes)

Jonathan Mensah (Evian)

Jerry Akaminko (Kisehirspor)

Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Midfielders: 

Michael Essien (AC Milan)

Sulley Muntari (AC Milan)

Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar)

Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus)

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese)

Afriyie Acquah (Parma)

Christian Atsu (Vitesse)

Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough)

Andre Ayew (Marseille)

Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan)

Strikers: 

Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain)

Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke 04)

Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes)

Jordan Ayew (Sochaux)

David Accam (Helsingborg)