By DAN KARELL
Ghana head coach Kwesi Appiah has chosen one of the strongest sides in memory to represent his nation at the World Cup this summer.
Appiah announced on Monday a 26-man provisional World Cup squad featuring the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Asamoah Gyan, and Michael Essien. Gyan and Sulley Muntari are in line to represent the Black Stars at their third straight World Cup.
The squad also includes up and coming winger Wakaso Mubarak, who scored four goals at the 2013 African Cup of Nations, the Ayew brothers Jordan and Andre, and experienced but young defender Samuel Inkoom.
Ghana is set to face the Netherlands in a friendly match in Amsterdam on May 31 and afterward Appiah is expected to select the final 23-man squad. The Black Stars will then travel to Miami to face South Korea on June 9 before heading to Brazil.
Ghana begin its World Cup adventure on June 16 in Natal against the United States. They face Germany on June 21 in Fortaleza and finish their Group G matches on June 26 in Brasilia against Portugal.
Here’s a look at Ghana’s provisional 26-man World Cup squad:
GHANA PROVISIONAL WORLD CUP SQUAD
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)
FORWARDS: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke 04), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux), David Accam (Helsingborg)