Black Stars List Out

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE SPORTS indicate that Black Stars Coach Milovan Rajevac has made a short-list ahead of the final list he is expected to release this weekend for the Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Angola next month.

Though Asempa FM, an Accra-based radio station speculated yesterday that a list of 23 plus seven on standby, had been named, with Stephen Appiah and John Mensah on the standby list, this paper can categorically state that the two are in the actual list.

Mensah is expected to feature for Sunderland against Aston Villa in the midweek whilst Appiah is also expected to recover next week, making their inclusions necessary, a source told this paper.

However, it appears Portsmouth's Kevin Prince Boateng, who has a German mother and a Ghanaian father, might not be part of the team because FIFA had not granted the change in nationality, whilst Mario Barwuah Balloteli is still adamant about playing for Ghana.  

Rajevac, who is currently in his native country, Serbia, was expected in town last night to begin preparations for the tournament which starts on January 10, 2010.

The list includes two local players, Philemon McCarty of Hearts of Oak and Daniel Adjei of Liberty Professionals while a third, Lee Addy of Bechem Chelsea, is on standby. A surprise call up was given to Hans Adu Sarpei of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen who has been out of the team for several months.

Four of the victorious Black Satellites squad members also made the list.

23-Man Squad
Goalkeepers
Richard Kingson (Wigan of England), Philemon McCarty (Hearts), and Daniel Adjei (Liberty).

Defenders
Samuel Inkoom (FC Basel, Switzerland), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland), Jonathan Mensah (Lille, France), John Mensah (Sunderland), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) and Jonathan Quartey (Free State Stars, South Africa)

Midfielders
Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Opoku Agyemang (Qatar), Haminu Daramani (Russia), Derek Boateng (Gatefe, Spain) and Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy)

Strikers
Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Eric Bekoe (Petrojet, Egypt) and Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan, Italy)

Stand By
George Owu (El Masry, Egypt), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim, Germany), Prince Buabeng (Dundee United, Scotland), Andre Dede Ayew (France) and Rahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt)

By Charles Nixon Yeboah