Ghana World Cup roster: USA's first World Cup foe names 26-man preliminary team

Asamoah Gyan, who buried the USA with his extra-time winner in the World Cup knockout stage in 2010, is back to lead the Black Stars this summer. (Timothy A.

Asamoah Gyan, who buried the USA with his extra-time winner in the World Cup knockout stage in 2010, is back to lead the Black Stars this summer. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty)

Ghana will attempt to thwart the U.S. men's national team in the World Cup for a third straight competition when the two sides open Group G play on June 16 in Natal, Brazil, and Kwesi Appiah has named a 26-man preliminary roster that he will whittle down to pick his team that will face the Americans.

2010 star and captain Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Kwadwo Asamoah and Michael Essien headline the Black Stars' squad, which will be cut to 23 after Ghana faces the Netherlands on May 31. Ghana will then head to Miami and play South Korea on June 9 as its final tune-up for the World Cup's Group of Death.

The USA is expected to announce its 30-man preliminary roster Monday afternoon. Germany has already released its 30-man squad, while Portugal, the final team in Group G, has yet to pick its team.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY: Ghana's Kwadwo Asamoah

Here is Ghana's roster in full:

GOALKEEPERS

: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset), Fatau Dauda (Orlando Pirates), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars)

DEFENDERS

: Samuel Inkoom (Platanias), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege), Harrison Afful (Esperance), Jeffrey Schullp (Leicester City), John Boye (Rennes), Jonathan Mensah (Evian), Jerry Akaminko (Eskisehirspor), Rashid Sumaila (Mamelodi Sundowns)

MIDFIELDERS

: Michael Essien (AC Milan), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Agyemang Badu (Udinese), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Sulley Muntari (AC Milan), Albert Adomah (Middlesborough), Wakasu Mubarak (Rubin Kazan), Christian Atsu (Vitesse), David Accam (Helsingborg), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Afriyie Acquah (Parma)

FORWARDS

: Asamoah Gyan (Al-Ain), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Schalke), Abdul Majeed Waris (Valenciennes), Jordan Ayew (Sochaux)