BlackStars to play Nice today

Nice, France, GHP (May 9) -- World Cup-bound Ghana will play a warm-up match against French Ligue 1 club Nice here today, May 9 at 20:00 local time. The hastily-arranged match in France is Ghana's last before coach Dujkovic names his 23-man squad on Thursday.

In the wake of a potential injury crisis for Ghana just over one month before the start of the tournament in Germany, Dujkovic will use this opportunity to finalize his striking options.

Ghana will mainly be using a B-side, since most of the first choice squad is already known. A couple of first timers have been invited.

With the Turkish Super League title between Fenerbahce and arch rival Galatasaray yet to be decided, Captain Appiah will not be available.

Michael Essien is resting from a bruising English league season and is also out of the game

Sulley Muntari and Osei Kuffour still have a game to go in the Italian league.

Sweden-based striker-turned-midfielder, Derek Boateng, arrived in Nice yesterday.

English-based strikers Junior Agogo and Derek Asamoah are also in town after the first call-up for the pair. Both players are from the bottom rung of professional football in England. Agogo, 26, plays for Bristol Rovers while the 25-year-old Asamoah is on loan at Chester City from Lincoln.

A source in Nice has spotted the following players : goalkeepers Richard Kingston(Ankaraspor, Turkey) and George Owu(Ashgold), Eric Addo(PSV, Netherlands) , Haminu Dramani(Red Star, Serbia and Montenegro), Alex Techie-Mensah (St. Gallen, Switzerland) Dan Quaye(Hearts of Oak) and Habib Mohammed(King Faisal).

A Ghana sports internet site has reported the presence of Kofi Amponsah, Baafuor Gyan, Peter Ofori-Quaye, Kwabena Agouda, Patrick Agyemang and Baba Amando, but these cannot be confirmed by GHP's source