ACCRA, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The head coach of Ghana's Black Stars James Kwesi Appiah on Monday named a 23-man squad to face Sierra Leone in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) later this month.

Skipper of the Black Stars Asamoah Gyan has been included in the Ghana side for the double-header qualifiers in Kumasi on Oct. 11 and in Freetown on Oct. 15 as Ghana seeks to revive its hopes of making it to next year's AFCON finals.

The former Shanghai SIPG forward had been omitted from recent national team call-ups for international matches due to injuries.

Shot-stopper Felix Annan, who plays for local side Kumasi Asante Kotoko, was the only home-based player named in the team.

Ghana tops Group F despite losing 1-0 to the Harambee Stars of Kenya in last month's qualifier. All the teams in the Group are tied at three points after two matches.

The 2019 AFCON, with its new 24-team format, will be held from June 15 to July 13 in Cameroon.

Following is the full squad:

Richard Ofori, Lawrence Ati Zigi, Felix Annan, Harrison Afful, Andy Yiadom, Lumor Agbenyenu, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Daniel Amartey, Nicholas Opoku, Mubarak Wakaso, Isaac Sackey Afriyie Acquah, Kwadwo Asamoah, Thomas Partey, Bernard Mensah, Christian Atsu, Thomas Agyepong, Nana Ampomah, Asamoah Gyan, Majeed Waris, Emmanuel Boateng, Richmond Boakye-Yiadom.