Agogo has been left out of the Stars squad
Troubled Egypt-based striker Junior Agogo has been dropped from Ghana's final squad for the World Cup qualifier against Benin later this month.

Also being left out of the 22-man squad is Russia-based midfielder Haminu Dramani, who recently left his club Lokomotiv Moscow in search of first team action.

Four players, who excelled at the recent African Nations Championship in the Ivory Coast, were named in the squad.

Rahim Ayew, son of legend Abedi Pele, gets his first call-up into the senior national team while Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful & Philemon McCarthy return to the fold.

Injury-prone France-based duo of Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah were named in the squad even though they only recently recovered from injuries.

Holland-based striker Matthew Amoah, who also recently recovered from injury, has also been called to the squad to face the Squirrels on 29 March.

Moussa Narry of French club Auxerre has been given the last chance to impress after turning down two previous invitations to the squad.

Narry's excuses in his previous call-ups were met with a sharp criticism from the Serbian manager but he has forgiven him to help plug the gap left by the absence of Laryea Kingston.

Michael Essien returns to the fold for the first time since September when he suffered an ankle injury while playing in the qualifier against Libya.

Agogo's exclusion comes after several run-ins with the clubs officials Zamalek which has limited his playing time, affecting his performance in matches for both club and country.

Ghana will take on Benin in Kumasi in the first game of the second phase of the World Cup qualifiers.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan, England) Philemon McCarthy (Hearts of Oak)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England), Nana Kwesi Asare (Belgium), Harrison Afful (Kotoko), Jonathan Quartey (South Africa), John Mensah (Lyon, France), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany) Eric Addo (Holland), Samuel Inkoom (Kotoko)

Midfielders: Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Anthony Annan (Norway), Stephen Appiah (unattached), Sulley Ali Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Rahim Ayew (Eleven Wise) , Mussa Narry (Auxerre, France)

Strikers: Samuel Yeboah (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Prince Tagoe (Al Ittifaq, Saudi Arabia), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland) , Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France)