Ghana release Final 23-man World Cup squad

Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan and Kwadwo Asamoah are all included in the final squad as the Black Stars look to improve on their 2010 quarter final exit

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has revealed his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil.

Appiah's squad includes 16 World Cup debutants with captain Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari appearing in a third-consecutive finals while Jonathan Mensah, Michael Essien, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andre Ayew and Kevin-Prince Boateng all prepare for their second outing at the tournament.

The 53-year-old has dropped the injured Jerry Akaminko, Jeffrey Schlupp and David Accam as the remaining squad will be heading to Miami for the final phase of preparations as the Black Stars face off with South Korea on June 9.

Akaminko picked up an ankle injury in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Netherlands and will undergo surgery that will keep him out of action for about three months.

The 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists have been paired in Group G with USA, Germany and Portugal.

Ghana's Final 23-man World Cup squad

Goalkeepers:Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege/Porto), Harrison Afful (Esperance), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Rashid Sumalia (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese), Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Christian Atsu (Vitesse), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan)

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke 04), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux)