Serie A, Ligue 1 have the biggest number in WC squad

Players based in Italy and France dominate Ghana’s provisional 26-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

The Serie A and Ligue 1 have a total of ten players in the Black Stars squad which will be cut down to 23 by 1st June.

Kwesi Appiah’s set of players include AC Milan duo Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari.

Also from the peninsula are Kwadwo Asamoah of Juventus fame, Udinese’ Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and youngster Afriyie Acquah who plays for Parma.

The French Ligue 1 contingent includes strikers Jordan Ayew (Sochaux) and Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes) John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian Thonon-Gaillard) and Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille).

The rest are based in Belgium, Russia, Ukraine, Greece and England. Two players, Harrison Afful and Rashid Sumaila play on the continent for Tunisian side Esperance and newly-crowned South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ghana are in Group G alongside Germany, Portugal and USA for the tournament in Brazil.

The Black Stars will play the Netherlands on 31 May before three names are cut for the final 23.

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars).

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (FC Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester City), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian Thonon-Gaillard), Jerry Akaminko, Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Midfielders: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Mohammed Rabiu (Kuban Krasnodar), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan), Christian Atsu (Vitesse Arnhem), David Accam (Helsingborg), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille), Afriyie Acquah (Parma).

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Kevin Prince Boateng (Schalke 04), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux).