Nana Akwasi Asare has been ruled out of the Zenith Bank 4-Nation International Tournament which kicks off over the weekend as a result of injury.

The Black Stars defender was named in Claude Le Roy’s 26-man squad for the competition but now misses out leaving the Ghana coach with 25 players to choose his team from.

Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, Fred Pappoe confirmed the KV Mechelen defender’s injury during Tuesday’s launch of the tournament.

Host, Ghana, together with Benin, Togo and the United Arab Emirates would be competing in the four-day competition which kicks off on November 17 and runs to November 21 at the 40,000-seater Ohene Djan stadium in Accra - one of the match venues for the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars play Togo’s Hawks on Sunday, a day after Benin and the United Arab Emirates kick off the competition.

Ghana Squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England) and Sammy Adjei (Mohadon Sports Ashdod, Israel)

Defenders: Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht, Holland) John Paintsil (West Ham, England) John Mensah (Rennes, France), Daniel Addo (Kessben FC, Ghana) Kofi Amponsah (Apollon Kalamarias, Greece) and Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Midfielders: Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios, Greece) Anthony Annan (IK Start, Norway) Michael Helegbe (Guigamp, France) and Mussa Nary (Etoile Du Sahel, Tunisia)

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England) Matthew Amoah (NEC Breda, Holland) Sadat Bukari (Etoile Du Sahel, Tunisia), Baffour Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Addoquaye Addo (Heart of Lions, Ghana), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana) and Nafiu Iddrisu (Asec Mimosa, Ivory Coast)