ACCRA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Kwesi Appiah, head coach of the Ghana soccer team Black Stars, named a 21-man squad on Sunday for the upcoming international friendlies against Japan and Iceland next month.

Both Japan and Iceland will use the games to prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia next month.

Ghana, on the other hand, will use the friendlies as part of their preparations for the forthcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying games later in the year.

The 2019 AFCON, the 32nd edition of the tournament, will be held in Cameroon.

It will be held in June and July 2019 following the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to move the competition from January-February to June-July for the first time.

Following is the squad:

Richard Ofori, Lawrence Ati Zigi, Lumor Agbenyenu, Kyere Yiadom Andrews, Kwesi Okyere, Joseph Attamah, Isaac Sackey, Afriyie Acquah, Kassim Nuhu, Raphael Dwamena, Frank Acheampong, Richmond Boakye Yiadom, Mubarak Wakaso, Thomas Partey, Emmanuel Boateng, Edwin Gyasi, Thomas Agyepong, Rashid Sumaila, Nicholas Opoku, Nana Ampomah, Albert adomah.