Interim Black Stars head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has named a 26-man squad for Ghana’s crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Somalia, with several key players returning to the national team after missing the previous two matches.
Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Daniel Kofi Kyereh and Alidu Seidu headline the returning players as Ghana look to revive their faltering qualification campaign following consecutive defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
The squad, announced on Monday, November 9, features a combination of experienced internationals and players from the domestic league, with three home-based players receiving their maiden senior national team invitations.
Ghana will host Somalia in the first encounter on Thursday, November 12, at the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi before the return fixture on Monday, November 16 at the same venue. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 15:00 GMT.
Partey, Kudus and Ayew Back to Push Ghana’s Course
The return of several established Black Stars players provides a significant boost to Ghana’s preparations as they attempt to get their Group C campaign back on track especially after most of them missed the previous encounters against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey returns to the squad for the first time since the World Cup in North America alongside Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus, who has not featured for the national team in 2026 after an injury ruled him out of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Captain Jordan Ayew also makes his return after missing the previous qualifiers because of a groin injury.
Kofi Kyereh Make a Return After a 4-Year Absence
Another notable inclusion is Daniel Kofi Kyereh, who earns a recall after an extended absence from international football.
The midfielder, who plays for German side Osnabrück, has not represented Ghana since December 2022 following a lengthy injury lay-off.
His last involvement for the national team after playing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Nice defender Alidu Seidu also returns to the fold, adding further experience to the defensive department.
Other familiar faces in the squad include goalkeeper Benjamin Asare of Accra Hearts of Oak, St. Gallen’s Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Gideon Mensah of FC Koln, Jerome Opoku of Istanbul Basaksehir, Jonas Adjetey of Wolfsburg and Kojo Peprah Oppong of Fenerbahce.
The attacking department also features Ipswich Town forward Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Sheffield United’s Jordan Ayew, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Ibrahim Osman and Brandon Thomas-Asante of Coventry City.
Three Home-Based Players Earn Maiden Call-Ups
Björkegren has also rewarded three Ghana Premier League players with maiden invitations to the senior national team following their performances in the ongoing domestic campaign.
Asante Kotoko defender Musa Hamzata and Medeama SC duo Etse Dogli and Emmanuel Annor are the three new faces in the squad.
Hamzata earns his opportunity after impressing in the Kotoko defence, while Dogli and Annor have been rewarded for their consistent contributions to Medeama’s campaign.
Their inclusion represents an opportunity for the domestic-based players to stake a claim in the national team and potentially strengthen their chances of becoming regular members of the Black Stars.
The other home-based player in the squad is FC Samartex left-back Isaac Afful, who also returns to the squad following his performances in the Ghana Premier League.
The remaining midfield options include Caleb Yirenkyi of Coventry City, Rahim Ibrahim of Slovan Bratislava, Augustine Boakye of St. Etienne and Ibrahim Sulemana of Sassuolo.
In goal, Benjamin Asare and Lawrence Ati-Zigi are joined by Joseph Anang of St. Patrick’s Athletic.
Björkegren, Tanko and Attram Take Charge
The squad will be managed by an interim technical team led by Black Queens Kim Lars Björkegren, who will work alongside Medeama SC head coach Ibrahim Tanko and former Ghana international Godwin Attram as assistant coaches.
Former Black Stars goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda has also been appointed goalkeeping coach for the November international window.
The interim arrangement follows the departure of former head coach Carlos Queiroz after Ghana’s disappointing start to the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.
The Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation subsequently initiated a search for a substantive head coach, with a committee tasked with identifying a suitable replacement.
However, with the November fixtures approaching, the decision was taken to put together an interim technical team to oversee the two matches against Somalia while the search for a permanent appointment continues.
The technical team will be under pressure to deliver immediate results, particularly after Ghana’s disappointing performances in their opening two Group C fixtures.
Black Stars Return to Essipong After 18 Years
Ghana’s first encounter against Somalia will take place at the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi, marking the Black Stars’ return to the venue for the first time since 2008.
The last time Ghana played at the stadium was on October 11, 2008, when the Black Stars defeated Lesotho 3-0 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying encounter.
The return to the Western Region venue offers Ghana an opportunity to reconnect with a stadium that previously hosted continental assignments during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in the country.
However, the significance of the occasion will largely depend on the result, as Ghana cannot afford another setback in their pursuit of qualification.
The Black Stars currently occupy the bottom position in Group C without a point after losing 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké before suffering a damaging 4-2 defeat to The Gambia in Accra.
With four qualifying matches remaining, the double-header against Somalia presents Ghana with an important opportunity to collect maximum points and regain lost ground in the group.
Anything short of a convincing response could further complicate their qualification prospects as the four-time African champions attempt to avoid missing another continental tournament for the second time in succession after failing to make the 2025 edition in Morocco.
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