Essien set to play first Ghana match in over a year after ending international exile

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been recalled to the Ghana squad and is in line to play his first international in 16 months.

Essien is included in coach Goran Stevanovic's 24-man squad for the June 3 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Republic of Congo and a friendly against South Korea four days later.

Essien last played for Ghana at the Cup of Nations in January 2010, before injuries cut short his participation in that tournament and then forced him to miss the World Cup, where the team reached the quarter-finals.

The 28-year-old Essien then went on an extended break to concentrate on his recovery and his club form, but he announced this month he was ready to return to international football.

The squad will meet in Accra on May 26, a day after an African team play a Rest of the World squad in the Ghanaian capital in a charity match organised by Essien.

Also in Stevanovic's squad are former Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, now at AC Milan, as well as Blackpool's Richard Kingson, Fulham's John Paintsil and Sunderland duo John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan.

Ghana lead African Cup qualifying Group I on goal difference from Sudan following a 3-0 away win in Republic of Congo in their last game. The top teams in each group qualify automatically for next year's African championship in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.