Afena-Gyan and Samed were the only two players dropped from coach Milovan Rajevac's preliminary 30-man squad which was announced last December.

GraphicOnline understands that Afena-Gyan's absence is a result of his request to be excused from international football to aid in his career development.

It will be recalled that Afena-Gyan also turned down his first and only previous Ghana call-up for a 2018 World qualifying double-header in November.

Samed, one of four debutants in Ghana’s provisional squad, was also reportedly cut over the reluctance of his French Ligue side club to sanction his release for the tournament over fitness concerns.

Ghana will play a friendly International against African Champions Algeria on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at the Education City Stadium in Doha to wrap up preparations ahead of the tournament.

The Black Stars will kick start the tournament against giants Morocco on Monday, January 10 before taking on Gabon and Comoros in the other Group C matches.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Joseph Wolacott (Swindon Town), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (Eupen), Richard Attah (Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Gallen)

Defenders: Andy Yiadom (Reading FC), Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC), Baba Abdul Rahman (Reading FC), Gideon Mensah (Girondins Bordeaux), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg FC), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew), Khalid Abdul Mumin (Vitoria de Guimaraes)

Midfielders: Baba Iddrissu (Real Mallorca), Edmund Addo (Sherif Tiraspol), Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal FC), Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen FC), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Daniel Kofi Kyere (St. Pauli), David Abagna (Real Tamale United)

Wingers: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Dreams FC), Samuel Owusu (Al-Fayha), Kamal Deen Suleymana (Rennes FC), Dede Ayew (Al Sadd SC), Joseph Paintsil (Genk)

Strikers: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Beitar Jerusalem), Maxwell Abbey Quaye (Great Olympics), Benjamin Tetteh (Malatyaspor)