By DAN KARELL
Andre Ayew, Michael Essien, and Asamoah Gyan will lead the line for Ghana at the 2014 World Cup.
Following Ghana’s 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday afternoon, head coach Kwesi Appiah trimmed his squad by three to finalize his 23-man roster, cutting defenders Jerry Akaminko, Jeffrey Schlupp and midfielder David Accam from the World Cup squad.
Akaminko suffered an ankle injury late in the loss to the Netherlands that will unfortunately leave him out for upwards of three months.
While there are 16 players who have never been to a World Cup before in the squad, the likes of Essien, Gyan, both Ayew brothers, Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Sully Muntari give the Black Stars plenty of experience. Juventus wing back Kwadwo Asamoah and Jonathan Mensah are a couple of more players who are likely to play a big role.
Some of the less experienced players to keep an eye on are midfielders Christian Atsu, Mohammed Rabiu, and centerback Rashid Sumaila.
Here’s a closer look at Ghana’s 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup:
GHANA’S 2014 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), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns)
MIDFIELDERS: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Mohammed Rabiu (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan)
FORWARDS: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux).