Kwesi Appiah explains that his called up players for the pre-Africa Cup of Nations camp are about the best the country can put forward.

The Ghana coach on Thursday announced a 26-man provisional squad that will travel to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates from January 7-16 for preparations.

Though the squad is without some players who had been integral part of the Black Stars in recent times, Appiah says he knows what the selected players are capable of.

The squad will be pruned to 23 before the Nations Cup kicks off in South Africa on 19 January.

“All the players I have selected, I have absolute confidence in them,” Appiah said at the press briefing on Thursday.

“I have given a lot of players the opportunity but for now I think these are the players I need to be successful at the Nations Cup.”

Ghana are paired with DR Congo, Mali and Niger in Group B at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.