Stars' captain Gyan excused from France friendlies

Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has been excluded from the squad to play Senegal and Mali in friendly matches in France.

Coach Avram Grant released a 22-man squad on Friday for the two matches.

The Stars will play the Teranga Lions in Le Havre on Saturday, March 28 before taking on the Eagles three days later in Paris.

Grant has handed a debut call-up to Tunisia-based Seidu Salifu, who plies his trade for Club Africaine.

“The team is dominated by players who excelled for Ghana at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea last month,” a statement on Ghana Football Association’s website said.

Leicester City defender Jeffrey Schlupp returns to the side with 2013 FIFA U-20 Golden Boot winner Ebenezer Assifuah also handed a call-up.

Below is the 22-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Razak Braimah and Fatau Dauda

Defenders: Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Jeffrey Schlupp, Baba Rahman, Edwin Gyimah and Daniel Amartey

Midfielders: Rabiu Mohammed, Agyemang-Badu, Afriyie Acquah, Solomon Asante, Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakasu, Andre Ayew, Frank Acheampong and Seidu Salifu

Strikers: Jordan Ayew, Kwesi Appiah, Ebenezer Assifuah and Mahatma Otoo