Essien, Dede Ayew, KP Boateng return for Ghana against Zambia

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has named Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien in a 26-man squad to face Zambia in next month’s World Cup qualifier.

Also included in the squad are Kevin-Prince Boateng and Andre Ayew as both players return to the Black Stars team to play the Chipolopolo in Kumasi on 6 September.

DR Congo-based defender Richard Kissi Boateng was also named in the team after being cleared by FIFA to play in the match.

Coach Appiah named 26 players as some of the players will also be tested in the Ghana-Japan friendly scheduled for 10 September in Yokohama.

The Black Stars will start camping on Monday in Accra ahead of the game in Kumasi.

Ghana currently top Group D and will need to avoid defeat to reach the final phase of the 2014 World Cup.

Goalkeepers: Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Adam Kwarasey (Stromgodset, Norway), Razak Braimah (Guadalajara, Spain)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia), Kissi Boateng (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), John Boye (Rennes, France), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France), Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Mohammed Awal (Maritzburg United, South Africa)

Midfielders: Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar, Russia), Yussif Raman Chibsah (Sassuolo, Italy), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus, Italy), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough, England), Solomon Asante (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Mubarak Wakaso (Espanyol, Spain), Christian Atsu (Porto, Portugal), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium)

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE), Andre Ayew (Marseille, France), Kevin Prince Boateng (AC Milan, Italy), Abdul Majeed Waris (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Mahatma Otoo (Sogndal, Norway).

Source: Ghana FA