Diego Maradona, the coach of the Argentine national team, announced the 19 players that will face Ghana in a friendly match at the Olimpico de Cordoba stadium next Wednesday.

For the match Maradona only selected those players who ply their trade in the Argentine first division, with Ariel Ortega and Martin Palermo the standouts.

Meanwhile, Maradona confirmed that on Friday he will announce the foreign-based players that will participate in Argentina's last two World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.

"Nobody will tell me which players not to choose, I listen to everyone but the one who has the final say is me. Those who will be here, will be here, I won't give anymore details," affirmed Maradona.

Maradona told the press that he will remain as the coach of the national team until 2011, and reiterated that "here the one who decides everything is me."

'El Diez' was visibly more slim during the press conference, but although he lost some pounds he didn't lose any of his temperament.

"The last thing I will allow is someone to tell me what not to do, I didn't accept it when I was 15 years old and I definitely won't accept it now that I'm 48."

The 1986 World Cup winner insisted that the local-based players that will face Ghana "have great possibilities of playing against Peru and Uruguay."

Finally, Maradona stated that when he was in Europe he caught up with several players that will be in his squad, including Lionel Messi, Diego Milito and Gonzalo Higuain.

Argentina Squad for Ghana Friendly:

Goalkeepers

Diego Pozo (Colon de Santa Fe) and Cristian Campestrini (Arsenal)

Defenders

Matias Caruzzo (Argentinos), Ignacio Canuto (Argentinos), Rolando Schiavi (Newell's), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell's), Cristian Villagra (River Plate), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes) and Fabian Monzon (Boca Juniors)

Midfielders

Rodrigo Brana (Estudiantes), Enzo Perez (Estudiantes), Leonel Vangioni (Newell's), Federico Insua (Boca Juniors), Jesus Mendez (Rosario Central) and Mario Bolatti (Huracan)

Strikers

Gabriel Hauche (Argentinos), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Ariel Ortega (River Plate), Esteban Fuertes (Colon de Santa Fe) and Luis Rodriguez (Atletico Tucuman)