Claude Le Roy has named a 40-man team roster for Ghana’s pre-African Cup of Nations training camp arranged for the United Arab Emirates next month.

The Black Stars would begin preparations for the tournament with a training camp on January 5 in Dubai as Le Roy searches for his final 23 for the competition before the January 10 deadline for teams to announce their squads.

Ghana’s team pool includes both foreign and local internationals with lots of uncapped players included.

Nine local players have been invited and are drawn from Asante Kotoko, Ashantigold, Liberty Professionals, Kessben FC and Hearts of Oak.

The domestic league’s top scorer, Eric Bekoe of Asante Kotoko gets his debut call up with Black Starlets full-back Daniel Opare of AshantiGold is also included.

23-year old Gillingham striker, Chris Dickson who plays in the English League One has earned his debut call up.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie has been included in the team as the FA awaits FIFA’s decision on his eligibility to play for Ghana.

A ruling on Quincy's status is expected during the second week of next month, though the Ghana Football Association has appealed for a fast-tracked process.

More than half the number of the 40-man squad would be selected by Claude Le Roy for the Black Stars team that would play at the African Cup of Nations to be hosted by Ghana in four major cities beginning January 20 and running to February 10.

Ghana are in Group A, together with Namibia, Guinea and Morocco. The top two sides qualify from the group into the next round of the competition.

The Black Stars would kick off the finals on January 20 at the Ohene Djan Stadium in the capital, Accra against Guinea.

Ghana squad

Goalkeepers:

Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod, Israel), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold, Ghana), Laud Quartey (Hearts of Oak Ghana) and Isaac Amoako (Asante Kotoko, Ghana).

Defenders:

John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Dan Opare (Ashantigold, Ghana), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon, Belgium), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn, Russia), Francis Dickoh (FC Utretcht, Holland), Kofi Amponsah (Appollon Kalamarias, Greece), Afful Harrison (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Daniel Addo (Kessben FC, Ghana)

Midfielders:

Anthony Annan (I.K. Start, Norway), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Bennard 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), Hamza Mohammed (FC Ceahlaul, Romania), Rabiu Mohammed (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Michael Helegbe (FC Guingamp, France)

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), Nafiu Iddrisu (Asec, Ivory Coast), Eric Bekoe (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Joe Tex Frimpong (Young Boys, Switzerland), Chris Dickson (Gillingham, England), Sadat Bukari (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia).