Otto Addo, the coach of Ghana, unveiled his list of 26 players selected for the matches against Mali (June 6th in Bamako) and the Central African Republic (June 10th in Kumasi), as part of the 3rd and 4th rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
New Arrivals
Addo’s list, who returned in March to lead the Black Stars after a stint at Borussia Dortmund, is marked by the arrival of two new players who have never represented Ghana in youth categories.
Cagliari midfielder Ibrahim Sulemana (21 years old) and West Bromwich Albion forward Brandon Thomas-Asante (25 years old), born in England, join the squad for the first time. Sulemana has played 21 games in Serie A this season, scoring 2 goals, while Thomas-Asante has netted 11 goals in 41 Championship (English D2) appearances.
.@GhanaBlackstars squad to take on Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) in June's 2026 World Cup qualifies has been named by Otto Addo.
— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) May 29, 2024
🔗 more here: https://t.co/NFCkeDQqeM pic.twitter.com/Yhys1HSKN3
Local Players and Notable Returns
Frederick Asare (25 years old), goalkeeper for Asante Kotoko (Ghana Premier League), is the only domestically based player called up. Thomas Partey, midfielder for Arsenal, makes his grand return after an absence since October.
Notable Absences
Several players are missing due to injury, including Baba Iddrisu, Majeed Ashimeru, Inaki Williams, Joseph Paintsil, Nathaniel Adjei, Dennis Odoi, Daniel Amartey, Daniel Kofi Kyere, and Joseph Aidoo. However, young talent Ernest Nuamah (19 years old), who had a mixed season at Olympique Lyonnais, is present, along with other Ligue 1 players Mohammed Salisu, Alidu Seidu, and Salis Abdul Samed.
A Ghanaian Legend Excluded
The notable absentee from this list is former Marseille player André Ayew. Despite his call-up in March, he seems to no longer feature in Addo’s plans. At 34 years old, Ayew still managed to score 5 goals in 19 appearances for Le Havre this season in Ligue 1, including a splendid goal nominated for the UNFP awards for the most beautiful goals of 2023-2024.
Objective: Qualification
Otto Addo’s players will gather Thursday morning at the University of Ghana stadium for a six-day camp before departing for Bamako on Tuesday, June 4th. The Black Stars, after a mixed AFCON, come off a win against Nigeria (2-1) and a draw against Uganda (2-2) in March. In the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Ghana defeated Madagascar (1-0) before losing to Comoros (1-0). Only the top spot in the group qualifies for the prestigious tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making every match crucial.
The list of called-up players:
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