Twelve players of the Black Stars together with backroom staff and administrative personnel left Accra on Wednesday evening aboard a Fly Emirates airliner to the Gulf region for a pre-African Cup of Nations training camp.

The flew out of the Kotoka International Airport in the capital, Accra, at 18:30 GMT to the United Arab Emirates.

Deputy team captain, John Mensah led the travelling party which included: Haminu Draman, Laryea Kingston, Matthew Amoah, Daniel Opare, Anthony Annan, Asamoah Gyan, Alhassan Illiasu, Baffour Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Fatau Dauda and Ahmed Barrusso.

The twelve would be joined later today by Harrison Afful, who travels from Accra after playing in a domestic league game on Wednesday for local side, Asante Kotoko.

However, the remaining members of the team would arrive at the Black Stars’ camp base in the United Arab Emirates from their various destinations.

Also to join in, is Stephen Appiah, who has been forced to sit of the African Cup of Nations because of injury problems. But the Black Stars captain would be playing a different role as Claude Le Roy wants him to act as an inspiration to the rest of his colleagues.

Claude Le Roy released his list of players for the training camp yesterday as he enters the final phase of preparations for the tournament.

Ghana would name its final team of 23 players for the African Cup of Nations in time for the tournament deadline of January 10.

Ghana kicks off the competition on January 20 at the Ohene Djan Stadium with an opening Group A game against Guinea.

Ghana’s preliminary squad:

Goalkeepers:

Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod, Israel), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold, Ghana)

Defenders:

John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Dan Opare (Ashantigold, Ghana), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon, Belgium), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn, Russia), Francis Dickoh (FC Utretcht, Holland) Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)

Midfielders:

Anthony Annan (I.K. Start, Norway), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Bernard Kumodzi (Panionios FC, Greece), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Moussa Narry (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Ahmed Barruso (AS Roma, Italy)

Strikers:

Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Baffuor Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana).