Essien gets Nations Cup nod, but Appiah, Muntari out

Chelsea midfielder Mickael Essien has been named in the Ghana team for next month’s African Nations Cup but captain Stephen Appiah has been left out along with Sulley Ali Muntari.

Essien, 29, limped off with a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against APOEL Nicosia earlier this month, and is not certain to be in top form for the Janaury 10-31 tournament.

Like Essien and Gyan Asamoah, Inter Milan midfielder Ali Muntari refused to play in a friendly against Angola on November 18 but has been punished for disciplinary reasons after failing to pay a fine.

Appiah has not sufficiently recovered from a right leg injury and will miss the tournament for the second time after already missing the 2008 edition in his homeland through injury.

Coach Milovan Rajevac called up six of the recent under-20 World Cup winners including Fredrikstad striker Dominic Adiyiah, the top scorer and player of the tournament.