World Cup: Asamoah Gyan, Kevin Prince Boateng, Michael Essien named to Ghana provisional squad

Asamoah Gyan, Ghana

You again. 


Ghana, the US national team's opponents in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, announced a 26-man provisional roster on Monday, including seven holdovers from the squad that ousted the USA in the second round of the 2010 World Cup.



The goalscorers in that knockout-round match in Rustenburg, South Africa – Asamoah Gyan and Kevin Prince Boateng – are among the seven. Some of the other big names featured are AC Milan duo Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari and Kwadwo Asamoah of Italian champions Juventus.


Ghana face the USA in their Group G opener on June 16 in Natal.


The biggest surprise in Monday's list of call-ups made by head coach Kwesi Appiah is the inclusion of left wingback Jeffrey Schlupp, who helped Leicester City earn promotion to the English Premier League.



With the exception of goalkeeper Stephen Adams, all of Ghana's players are based abroad.

The Ghanaians will begin their preparations in Europe (vs. Netherlands on May 31) and then they'll take their cut-down squad of 23 players to Florida for a match against South Korea on June 9.


GHANA'S 26-MAN PROVISIONAL ROSTER

Goalkeepers (3):


Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset - Norway / 26yrs)
Fatua Dauda (Orlando Pirates - South Africa / 29yrs)
Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars - Ghana / 24yrs)


Defenders (8):

Samuel Inkoom (FC Dnipro - Ukraine / 24yrs)
Daniel Opare (Standard Liege - Belgium / 23yrs)
Jonathan Mensah (Evian TG - France / 23yrs)
Harrison Afful (Esperance - Tunisia / 27yrs)
Jeff Schlupp (Leicester City - England / 21yrs)
John Boye (Stade Rennes - France / 27yrs)
Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor - Turkey / 26yrs)
Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns - South Africa / 21yrs)


Midfielders (11):

Sulley Muntari (AC Milan - Italy / 29yrs)
Wakaso Mubarak (Rubin Kazan - Russia / 23yrs)
Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar - Russia / 24yrs)
Michael Essien (AC Milan - Italy / 31yrs)
Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese - Italy / 23yrs)
Afriyie Acquah (Parma - Italy / 22yrs)
Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille - France / 24yrs)
Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus - Italy / 25yrs)
Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem - Netherlands / 22yrs)
Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough - England / 26yrs)
David Titi Accam (Helsingborg - Sweden / 23yrs)


Forwards (4):

Jordan Ayew (Sochaux - France / 22yrs)
Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes - France / 22yrs)
Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain - UAE / 28yrs)
Kevin Prince Boateng (Schalke 04 - Germany / 27yrs)