Ghana begins a new era under Claude Le Roy as the Frenchman leads the Black Stars to play Japan's national side on Wednesday.

Japan host Ghana in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2006 friendly match at the Nissan stadium in Yokohama.

Le Roy would be bracing up for the Japanese challenge when takes his seat on the Ghanaian bench.

The Black Stars coach making his Ghana debut would be seeking to pass the Japan test creditably.

Wednesday's international friendly is the first for both nations at the men's senior level.

Japan beat Ghana 1-0 at the last Olympics in Athens.

The Asian side began life under new coach Ivica Osim with a 2-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in August.

For Ghana, the game against Japan is the first for Claude Le Roy who was appointed Black Stars coach last month.

The Yokohama showdown will be the Black Stars' second international friendly after Germany 2006 having, defeated Togo 2-0 in London under assistant Coach, Silas Tetteh.

Le Roy has a strong nineteen-man squad to pick his starting eleven against the Japanese.

Ghana’s squad includes four players - Laryea Kingson, Junior Agogo, Francis Dickoh and Derek Asamoah who were not part of the World Cup team.


Ghana squad:

Goalkeepers: Sammy Adjei (Mohadon Sports Ashdod, Israel), Richard Kingson (BB Ankaraspor, Turkey)

Defenders: Hans Adu Sarpie (VFL Wolfsburg, Germany), Issa Ahmed (Randers, Denmark), Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht, Holland), Dan Quaye (Hearts of Oak,Ghana), Habib Mohammed (Molde FK, Norway), Shilla Illiasu (Saturn FC, Russia) and John Mensah (Rennes, France)

Midfielders: Stephen Appiah (Fenerbache, Turkey), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Laryea Kingson (Locomitiv Moscow, Russia) Sulley Ali Muntari (Udinese, Italy), Haminu Dramani (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland)

Forwards: Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Razak Pimpong (FC Copenhagen, Denmark) and Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy) and Derek Asamoah (Shrewsbury, England).

The game kicks off at 10:20 GMT at the Nissan stadium in Yokohama.