ACCRA, Mar. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ghana Black Stars head coach Avram Grant has picked 22 players for the international friendlies against Senegal and Mali next week.

The squad is dominated by players who excelled for Ghana at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea last month.

But Skipper Asamoah Gyan has been excused for the two friendlies as he is continuing with his recovery from a slight injury at his club side.

The Black Stars will play the Teranga Lions of Senegal in Le Havre on March 28 and then take on Mali three days later in Paris.

The matches will help Grant to prepare his side for the impending AFCON 2017 qualifiers beginning June.

The friendlies will be the Black Stars' first match after placing second at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars are expected to start camping in France on Monday.