20 Black Stars players trained  on Tuesday in Istanbul ahead of  next Tuesday’s World Cup playoff against Egypt in Cairo.

Absentees included  Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Adam Kwarasey and Awal Mohammed are yet to arrive in camp.

Essien was in Ghana at the weekend to bury his late father, James Essien in the Central Region.

Kwarasey captained Stromsgodset to win the Norwegian League title on Sunday.

Maritzburg United’s Mohammed played for his Saturday in the Premier Soccer League.

Two-goal hero Boateng saw 90 minutes of action for Schalke 04 as they defeated Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

The Black Stars will train in the European country before leaving for Cairo on 18 November, a day before the match at the Air Defense Stadium.

Ghana have a healthy 6-1 lead from the first leg and are in pole position to seal a third straight appearance at the World Cup finals.