Black Stars coach, Claude Le Roy has whittled down his 40-man squad to 26 as he embarks on the final phase of preparations for the African Cup of Nations. Claude Le Roy has included Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah in his 26-man playing squad for a pre-African Cup of Nations training camp of the United Arab Emirates this week. Also to be included in the squad is Laryea Kingston, another player just like Appiah who is recuperating from injury. Stephen Appiah has been struggled with injury after suffering from complications on his knee but Claude Le Roy says he still has a role for his captain. Le Roy wants Stephen Appiah around the rest of the team during the build up to the competition. "Even without Stephen we'll try to do our best to win the competition. "That's why I want him to join us for our training camp and if possible to be with us during the tournament as well. "We will use him as a special adviser because he can bring a lot to the team even without playing." Three local players, Fatau Dauda, Dan Opare and Kwadwo Asamoah have all managed to make it into the Frenchman”™s list for the training tour while Celta Vigo striker, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, also makes the team. Twelve of the players selected would depart Accra Wednesday evening for Dubai to be joined by the bulk of the players from their various bases in Europe. The team would begin preparations for the African Cup of Nations on Thursday at their training camp. Eleven of the players would be fighting for their first African Cup of Nations appearance as Claude Le Roy prepares to submit his final squad of 23 for the tournament by the January 10 deadline. Ghana would kick off the tournament on January 20 at the Ohene Djan Stadium with an opening Group A game against Guinea. Ghana Squad Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod, Israel), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold, Ghana) Defenders: John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Dan Opare (Ashantigold, Ghana), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon, Belgium), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn, Russia), Francis Dickoh (FC Utretcht, Holland), Kofi Amponsah (Appollon Kalamarias, Greece) Midfielders: Anthony Annan (I.K. Start, Norway), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Bernard Kumodzi (Panionios FC, Greece), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Haminu Dramani (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Moussa Narry (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Ahmed Barruso (AS Roma, Italy) Strikers: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Baffuor Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana). Source: Ghanafa.org