Former Dutch Under-20 international Quincy Owusu-Abeyie has been included in hosts Ghana's preliminary squad of 40 players for next month's African Cup of Nations.

Ex-Arsenal youngster Owusu-Abeyie applied earlier this year to FIFA to have his international allegiance changed and the Ghana Football Association said on Tuesday they were still awaiting the decision.

Ghana coach Claude Leroy has selected 11 uncapped players including English-born Gillingham striker Chris Dickson.

Dickson, who has Ghanaian and Jamaican heritage, caught the eye of Leroy with his seven goals in England's League One (third division) this season, on loan from Charlton Athletic.

There are four Premier League players in the squad: Chelsea's Michael Essien, Portsmouth's Sulley Muntari, John Paintsil of West Ham and Birmingham goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Ghana will cut the squad down to 23 by January 10. They open the tournament against Guinea in Accra on Jan. 20. Ghana are also drawn with Namibia and Morocco.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sammy Adjei (Ashdod), Isaac Amoako (Asante Kotoko), Fatau Dauda (AshantiGold), Richard Kingson (Birmingham City), Laud Quartey (Hearts of Oak)

Defenders: Daniel Addo (Kessben FC), Kofi Amponsah (Apollon Kalamarias), Nana Kwasi Asare (KV Mechelen), Francis Dickoh (FC Utrecht), Afful Harrison (Asante Kotoko), Dan Opare (AshantiGold), John Mensah (Rennes), John Paintsil (West Ham United), Hans Sarpei (Bayern Leverkusen), Illiasu Shilla (Saturn Ramenskoye)

Midfielders: Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven), Anthony Annan (IK Start), Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille), Ahmed Barruso (Roma), Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Michael Helegbe (Guingamp), Laryea Kingston (Heart of Midlothian), Bernard Yao Kumodzi (Panionios), Hamza Mohammed (Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt), Rabiu Mohammed (Liberty Professionals), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth), Moussa Narry (Etoile Sahel)

Forwards: Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), Eric Bekoe (Asante Kotoko), Sadat Bukari (Etoile Sahel), Chris Dickson (Gillingham), Joetex Frimpong (Young Boys Berne), Asamoah Gyan (Udinese), Baffour Gyan (Saturn Ramenskoye), Idrissu Abdul Nafiu (ASEC Abidjan), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo).

Reuters