Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac on Sunday unveiled his 23-man World Cup squad with all his key players included with one notable exception, Michael Essien.

The Chelsea midfielder misses the trip to South Africa after failing to recover from the knee injury that forced him to limp out of Ghana's team at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

He was ruled out of contention on Friday.

Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has a Ghanaian father and a German mother, made the list after receiving approval from FIFA despite having figured for Germany at youth level.

Ghana, making their second successive appearance at the World Cup, are drawn in Group D and open their campaign against Serbia on June 13, followed by Australia on June 19 and Germany on June 23.

Ghana World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan/ENG), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals/GHA), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions/GHA)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (FC Basel/SUI), Jonathan Mensah (Grenada/ESP), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea/GHA), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek/EGY), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), John Mensah (Sunderland/ENG), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim/GER), John Paintsil (Fulham/ENG).

Midfielders: Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan/ITA), Derek Boateng (Getafe/ESP), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg/NOR), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese/ITA), Andre Ayew (Arles-Avignon/FRA - on loan), Stephen Appiah (Bologna/ITA), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al Sadd/QAT), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth/ENG)

Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda/NED) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes/FRA), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim/GER), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan/ITA)

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