Ghana's head coach Claude Le Roy Thursday named his 23-man squad for the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations which Ghana will host f rom 20 January to 10 February, PANA reports quoting the Ghana Football Associati o n (GFA) website.

According to the Association, the list includes four debutants - home-based le ft-back Harrison Afful, goalkeeper Fatau Dauda, and attacker Kwadwo Asamoah, as w ell as Celta Vigo's Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, who was cleared by FIFA just 12 hours b e fore the deadline for the submission of Team lists to the Confederation of Afric a n Football (CAF).

Holland-based Francis Dickoh and Etoile Du Sahel's Moussa Nary failed to make th e grades at the team's training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Real Madrid target Daniel Opare and striker Matthew Amoah also failed to make th e team due to injury.

Following is the full squad:-

GOALKEEPERS: Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod, Is rael), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold, Ghana)

DEFENDERS: John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon, Bel gium), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn, Russia), Harri s on Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany).

MIDFIELDERS: Anthony Annan (I.K. Start, Norway), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holla nd), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Bernard Kumodzi (Panionios FC, Greece), L aryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sul l ey Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Ahme d Barruso (AS Roma, Italy).

STRIKERS: Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Baffuor Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Junio r Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain), K w adwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana).

The Black Stars will return to Ghana 15 January and take on Guinea in the tourna ment's opener.