How Kwesi Appiah went from non-league side Margate to play for Ghana at African Cup of Nations

Former Margate striker Kwesi Appiah has completed the delightful journey of playing for the non-league side after being named in the Ghana squad for the African Cup of Nations.

The 24-year-old - who was born in Thamesmead - was signed by Crystal Palace in January 2012 after a golden spell of 35 goals in 34 games while at Hartsdown Park.

But he has recently been out on loan at League 2 Cambridge United, where his loan expires on Saturday, following previous stints at Notts County, AFC Wimbledon and Yeovil.

Appiah - who came through the youth ranks at Ebbsfleet before a controversial switch to Peterborough - was named in the Black Stars' provisional squad for the tournament before Christmas.

He made his debut in a Ghana shirt, finding the net in a 3-0 win over Portuguese club side Olhanense in a friendly in Spain on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning he was named in the final 23-man party for the competition - switched from Morocco to Equatorial Guinea amid controversy over Ebola - by manager Avram Grant, formerly in charge of Chelsea and Portsmouth.

Appiah tweeted: "Buzzing to have scored on my international debut for Ghana. Very proud moment. Delighted to have made the squad. Let the hard work continue."

Ghana play another warm-up against Dutch team Cambuur on Thursday before playing their final pre-tournament match against German side Freiburg on Wednesday.

Appiah is one of 10 new faces in the squad for the tournament, which gets underway on Saturday, January 17.

The Black Stars will be led at the tournament by captain Asamoah Gyan, formerly of Sunderland, who joins Marseille's Andre Ayew, Celtic's Mubarak Wakaso and French-based defender Jonathan Mensah in the squad for the tournament.

They face Senegal in their opening game in Mongomo on January 19 before taking-on Algeria on January 23 and South Africa on January 27.