Charles Akunnor, incumbent skipper of the senior national soccer team the Black Stars has been dropped from the team which is preparing for the 23rd African Cup of Nations starting from January 19 to February 10 in Mali next year.

Akunnor who is also the captain of Bundisliga club, Wolfsburg was left out of the list of 17 foreign-based foreign players coach Osam Duodu announced at a press briefing in Accra.

The coach told sports journalists that Akunnor would not be relevant to his plans when the Black Stars challenge for honours in Mali. He was also mute on the appointment of a new captain for the team, saying he would make the appointment at the appropriate time.

Though Akunnor has been playing regularly for his club in Germany, he has not been impressive in his last two appearances for the Black Stars.

The attacking midfielder has come under a barrage of press criticism for his role in the 1-3 bashing the team received from the Lone Stars of Liberia in their World Cup qualifying match at the Accra Sports Stadium in July.

In his absence deputy skipper Samuel Osei Kuffour is likely to lead the team though the coach has declined to commit himself. Also to fall under the coach's hammer are Fernabache of Turkey strongman, Sam Johnson and goalkeeper Richard Kingston.

Others are the Turkey trio of Kwame Ayew, Yaw Preko and Stephen Baidoo and Otto Addo, the Borussia Dortmund playmaker who has just recovered from an injury and Augustine Arhinful.

Coach Osam Duodu however released a list of 17 foreign-based players he intends screening before making his final selection for the tournament.

They are Stephen Appiah (Parma, Italy), Derek Boateng (Panathanaikos, Greece) Baffour Gyan (Slovan Libirex, Czech Rep.) and Christian Gyan (Feyernood, Holland).

Others are Charles Amoah (Sturm Gruz, Austria) Emmanuel Duah (Unio Leira, Portugal), George Blay (Standard Liege, Belgium), Mohammed Gargo, (Udinese, Italy), Michael Essien, (Bastia, France) Abdul Razak Ibrahim (Empoli, Italy) and Yakubu Abubakari, (Ajax, Holland).

The rest are Peter Ofori Quaye, (Olympiakos, Greece) Kofi Amponsah, (Greece) Alex Techie Mensson, (Xamax, Switzerland) Mathew Amoah (Vittese Aihenmen) and John Mensah (Belizona, Switzerland).