Ghana captain, Stephen Appiah and midfielder Michael Essien are likely to miss the friendly against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh today.

Appiah is reported to be ill while the Chelsea midfielder is out due to injury.

Ghanaian team officials said the Chelsea star did not travel with several of his teammates from London at the weekend.
They did not give any details of his injury.

The game in Riyadh will be Ghana's first since securing World Cup qualification last September.

Essien played a major role in helping Ghana to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time.

Striker, Joe Tex Frimpong was exempted from this game after playing helping his club, Enyimba win the Coca-Cola FA Cup on Saturday when they beat on Lobi Stars 7-6 on penalties.

But AS Roma defender Samuel Osei Kuffuor makes a return to the squad after a seven-month lay off from the Black Stars team.

Osei Kuffour was part of the 21-man squad named for the game that will kick-start the Black Stars' preparations for the 2006 African Cup of Nations.

Full squad:


Goalkeepers:

George Owu (AshantiGold) and Philemon McCarthy (Feyenoord)


Defenders:

Dan Quaye (Hearts of Oak), Issah Ahmed (Asante Kotoko), Samuel Osei Kuffuor (AS Roma, Italy) Daniel Edusei (Egaleo, Greece), John Mensah (Cremonese, Italy )


Midfielders:

Mathew Amoah (Vitesse Arnhem, Holland), Francis Dickoh (Nordsjaelland fc, Denmark), Godwin Attram (Al Shabab,Saudi Arabia), Laryea Kingston (Krylya Sovietov Samara ,Russia ) Abubakari Yakubu (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands) Anthony Obodai (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands)


Attackers:

Alex Techie Mensah (St. Gallen, Switzerland), Asamoah Gyan (Modena, Italy), Haminu Dramani (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro).