Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana has named a 23-man squad to play in the 2006 African Cup of Nations contest starting in Egypt in five days.

Plagued with late injuries to key players, Coach Ratomir Dujkovic will rely on players he had put on standby to complete the list, which excludes Chelsea's Michael Essien and his midfield partner Sule Ali Muntari of Italian club, Udinese.

Also missing from the squad is Modena of Italy's young striker Asamoah Gyan, who took a knock at training in Tunisia and underwent a successful knee surgery in Italy three days ago.

Accra Hearts of Oak's arrow-head Prince Tagoe is the surprise inclusion in the team. Despite winning the highest scorer's award last season, his invitation had drawn criticism from a cross section of the media on the grounds that he was too frail and immature for the big stage.

The team is made up of three goalkeepers, nine defenders, six midfield players and five attackers.

The line-up:

Goalkeepers are Sammy Adjei (Mohadan Sports Ashdod, Israel) George Owu (AshantiGold, Ghana) and Philemon McCarthy (Feyenoord Academy, Ghana).

Defenders are Emmanuel Addoquaye Pappoe (Ashdod Tel-Aviv, Israel), John Paintsil (Ashdod Tel-Aviv, Israel), John Mensah (Cremonese, Italy), Issah Ahmed (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Aziz Ansah (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Daniel Edusei (Egaleo, Greece), Samuel Osei Kuffour (AS Roma, Italy), Francis Dickoh (Nordsjaelland, Denmark) and Hans Adu Sarpei (Wolfsburg, Germany).

Midfielders are Stephen Appiah (Fernabache, Turkey), Haminu Dramani (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro), Hamza Mohammed (Real Tamale United, Ghana), Abubakari Yakubu (Vitesse Arnheim, Holland), Laryea Kingston (Terek Gronzy, Russia) and Baba Amando Adamu (Krylia Sovetov, Russia).

Attackers are Godwin Attram (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Joe Tex Frimpong (Enyimba, Nigeria), Mathew Amoah (Borrusia Dortmund, Germany), Prince Tagoe (Hearts of Oak, Ghana) and Louis Agyemang (Kaiser Chiefs, South Africa).