Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has made a shock inclusion of three youngsters Jeffrey Schlupp, David Accam and Afriyie Acquah in his squad for the World Cup while snubbing experienced defenders John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah in his provisional 26-man squad.
The Black Stars manager named a squad largely dominated by players who played in the qualifiers with goalkeeper Stephen Adams as the only home-based player in the squad.
Also dropped from the squad are experienced players goalkeeper Richard Kingson, Anthony Annan and Derek Boateng who were largely not expected to make the squad.
In the widely-praised squad released by Appiah in the packed press conference in Accra, top players Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari will in line for their third appearances at the World Cup after being named in the squad.
Other top players like Michael Essien, Andre Ayew, Kevin Prince Boateng and Kwadwo Asamoah are in line for their second appearances in the global tournament.
But there were also places in the squad reserved for talented players apart from the experienced ones who were named in the team for the tournament in Brazil.
Players like Mubarak Wakaso, Rabiu Mohammed, Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Opare, Christian Atsu and Jordan Ayew will all get the chance to impress the coach before he names his final squad.
But a lot of comment will be reserved for the three youngsters who were called by coach Appiah following their outstanding showing in their various leagues in Europe.
Accam who is among the leading scorers in the Swedish top-flight despite being a winger get his chance following his outstanding start to the season while Acquah gritty display for Parma in Italy helped his cause.
Accam is another surprise inclusion, winning his place after a burst of 10 goals in 10 games for his Swedish club Helsingborg.
Schlupp, who plays for promoted English Premier League side Leicester City, can play as a left-back, left-wing and as an out-and-out striker.
The 21-year-old made his Ghana debut in November 2011 as a second half substitute in a pre-2012 Africa Cup of Nations friendly against Gabon.
His select band of players is made up of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, 11 midfielders and four strikers.
But the big losers from the squad are Vorsah and John Mensah who were desperately hoping to make the squad despite their fitness problems but the coach stood his ground to name only fit players.
Some had argues for the including of Vorsah and Mensah citing their experience at the highest level and their commanding authority at the back but Appiah showed that he is only interested in players who are fit.
Mensah has not played for his Slovakian club Nitra FC since being taken off in the 11th minute of a match six weeks ago while Vorsah has not played since last year when he suffered an injury on 7 May, 2013.
Annan just recovered from injury but his inconsistency at club level cost him a place while Derek Boateng has been sparingly used at Fulham.
Captain Asamoah Gyan and AC Milan ace Sulley Muntari are the only survivors from the 2006 and 2010 squads making it to Brazil.
Aduana stars goalkeeper Stephen Adams is the only home-based player who made the cut.
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, who missed the 2010 World Cup finals after picking up an injury during the team’s pre-tournament camping base, is set to make his debut.
The Black Stars will play their first pre-World Cup friendly against Holland in Rotterdam on 31 May before the final 23 is picked for the tournament.
The team will then head to Florida where they will engage finalists South Korea on 9 June before flying into Brazil the next day.
Ghana’s provisional World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers:Â Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Fatua Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).
Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Jonathan Mensah (Evian TG), Harrison Afful (Esperance), Jeff Schulpp (Leicester City), John Boye (Stade Rennes), Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor) and Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Midfielders: Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan), Mohammed Rabiu (Kuban Krasnodar), Michael Essien (AC Milan), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), David Accam (Helsingborg).
Strikers: Jordan Ayew (Sochaux), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain) and Kevin Prince Boateng (Schalke 04).
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