Forty-four players have been selected to begin preparations this week for the second edition of the African Nations Championship- CHAN, which comes up in 2011.
The local Black Stars side will begin the qualifying campaign with a game against Burkina Faso in a competition designed by CAF for only home-based players of its member countries.
Ghana’s called up side would arrive in camp today as the Black Stars, second runners-up at the maiden competition last year in Ivory Coast, seek to reach the finals of the CHAN to be hosted by Sudan.
Burkina Faso would host the first leg on the weekend of March 12-14 in Ouagadougou with the return in a fortnight, March 26 - 28, 2010. The winner over the two-leg tie qualifies for the competition.
Grouped in Zone West B where three qualifying places are assured, Ghana and five other sides - Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Togo would battle it for places.
Caf, organizers of the competition has increased the participating teams to 16 from eight that took part in the inaugural event.
Selected team
Goalkeepers: Stephen Adams - Aduana Stars, Ben Mensah - Olympics, Philemon McCarthy - Hearts of Oak, Daniel Agyei - Liberty.
Defenders: Godfred Saka - Aduana Stars, Prince Boateng, Gideon Baah Kotoko, Latif Mohammed - Olympics, Akwasie Bobie - Kessben, Ghandi Kassenu - Liberty, Gabriel Opoku Ware - Aduana Stars, Karimu Alhassan, Ishmak Aminu - Wa All Stars, Awal Mohammed - Feyenoord, Nafiu Awudu - King Faisal, Lee Addy - Chelsea, Isaac Owusu - Kotoko, David Ashong, Aminu Fuseini - Wa All Stars, Otuo Acheampong - Kessben, Owusu Sefah - AshantiGold
Midfielders: Jordan Opoku - Kotoko, Issah Yakubu - RTU, Aminu Mohammed, Francis Mantey - AshantiGold, Joseph Ato-Bissah - Hasaacas, Malik Akowuah - Olympics, Billal Mohammed - Olympics, Bright Addae – Wa All Stars, Edmund Owusu-Ansah - Heart of Lions, Esme Mends - Hearts of Oak, Frank Boateng - Kotoko, Ebo Andoh - King Faisal
Strikers: Kabiru Moro - Kotoko, Mahatma Otoo, Samuel Affum - Hearts of Oak, Addoquaye Addo - AshantiGold, Obed Owusu - Chelsea, Seidu Bansi - New Edubiase, Latif Falifu - Liberty, Prince Arkoh - King Faisal, James Boadu, Bismark Idan - Kessben, Nathaniel Asamoah - Wa All Stars