Christian Atsu is one of 18 players in Ghana camp

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has been boosted by the arrival of 18 players on his first day of camping ahead of Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi.

The Black Stars are camping in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in preparation towards the second-leg clash in Lilongwe.

Ahead of the team’s first day of training, 18 players were in camp with the remaining three expected to join the team later on Tuesday, a GFA statement said.

Star players Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu are all in camp as well as stand-in captain John Paintsil, who returns to the squad after a long absence.

Swedish league’s top striker Abdul Majeed Waris, dependable goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey as well as highly-rated defenders Isaac Vorsah and John Boye are all in camp

The only top player who is yet to join the team is Juventus star Kwadwo Asamoah as well as France-based duo of Jonathan Mensah and Rabiu Mohammed.

Their arrival will complete the full squad expected for the game as the replacement for Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Afriyie Acquah has also joined camp.

The team will camp in Nairobi until they leave on Friday for Lilongwe where the second-leg of the final qualifier will be played.

Ghana lead Malawi 2-0 going into the second leg of their final-round qualifier in Lilongwe on Saturday.

The aggregate winners will play at next year’s finals in South Africa.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromgodset, Norway), Philemon McCarthy (Hearts of Oak), Fatau Dauda (AshantiGold)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), David Addy (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal), John Boye (Rennes, France), Isaac Vorsah (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Jonathan Mensah (Evian Thonon Gaillard, France).

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Osasuna, Spain), Daniel Nii Adjei (Asante Kotoko), Mubarak Wakaso (Espanyol, Spain), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Italy), Christian Atsu (Porto, Portugal), Solomon Asante (Berekum Chelsea), Andre Ayew (Marseille, France), Rabiu Mohammed (Evian, France)

Strikers: Emmanuel Clottey (Esperance, Tunisia), Abdul Majeed Warris (Hacken, Sweden), Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE).

Source: MTNFootball.com