Michael Essien has told the Ghana Football Association it was wrong to drop Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari from the Black Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations squad that is due to start in Angola.

The Chelsea star in a no-holds barred letter to the GFA says he wants to express his ‘thoughts and concerns’ about the Nations Cup squad but they are thoughts and concerns that will represent the first major crisis for Stars coach Milovan Rajevac.

And Essien’s biggest concern is the axing of Sulley Muntari, his room mate on national team duty, friend and he says ‘a world class player’.

Muntari was dropped on disciplinary grounds after snubbing a meeting with Milovan Rajevac in Milan. While many people have expressed their delight at his omission, there are those unhappy that a player of his quality has been left out the team and Essien is one of them.

“We are in one of the toughest groups this January and it is very important we go with all our experienced and valuable players to win the Cup and prepare us for the World Cup,” Essien said.

“Sulley Muntari is a world class player, and has obviously gained a lot of experience from playing in Europe. He has worked so hard in the past for the Black Stars and I remember at the last African Cup, Sulley and I suffered from malaria, and yet we played our hearts out for the country we love so much.”

Essien also takes issues with the tag of indiscipline against Muntari and wonders if he is not being treated unfairly for missing the friendly against Angola recently.

“Three players didn't show up in Angola for the recent friendly and we have been embarrassed and punished for this. However I wonder why Sulley has been the only one of the three excluded from the team.

“Sulley doesn't bring indiscipline to the pitch, he brings experience, value and results to our team and it is imperative we have him in the team if we are to excel at the next games.”

Muntari was a hit for Ghana at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and played a huge part as Ghana reached the semi finals of the 2008 Nations Cup scoring two goals and providing several assists.

He weighed in with his fair share of goals and assists in the present qualifiers and has remained one of the most active Ghanaians in a star studded Inter Milan side.

While it is highly unlikely that Rajevac will buckle under the pressure and recall Muntari, the growing objection to his omission and the decision by his most high profile player to voice his discontent represents a major test of his authority.

The Chelsea star is Ghana’s most important player on and off the field with his presence a driving force for the team on the field while he has also become a valuable bargaining chip for the GFA when negotiating appearance fees for friendlies.