Black Stars of Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has named Baba Abdul Rahman and Ernest Nuamah in a 28-man squad for World Cup preparations but there is no place for former captain Andre Dede Ayew, www.aclsports.com reports.
Queiroz released the much anticipated squad list late on Monday night and although it was not specified as the World Cup squad, it is expected that the Portuguese coach will simply cut this down to 26 later on.
The 28-man squad comprises of five goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards. Former Chelsea left back, Baba Rahman is one of few players that have been handed lifelines in this latest Ghana selection after they had stayed out of the team for various reasons in the recent past.
Rahman returns to the Ghana fold for the first time since September 2023, following consistent performances for PAOK. He made 35 appearances this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists across all competitions.
Also returning is Olympique Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah, who has been absent from the Black Stars for more than a year. He is back to full fitness after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for more than 12 months.
Other notable returnees include Rayo Vallecano’s Abdul Mumin, who is back from a long layoff due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury; Saint-Étienne midfielder Augustine Boakye; and Stade Rennes defender Alidu Seidu.
https://x.com/ghanablackstars/status/2059028276643795411?s=46
Ghana will be without injured Tottenham Hotspur star Mohammed Kudus as well as Dede Ayew whom Queiroz has chosen to ignore in spite of calls by Black Stars fans to have him on board.
The squad has started to assemble in Cardiff on Monday, May 25, 2026, in preparation for the international friendly against Wales and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Ghana will face Panama in the opening Group L match in Toronto before taking on England and Croatia in Boston and Philadelphia, respectively.
Black Stars Squad for World Cup prep
Goalkeepers:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen)
Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak)
Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Solomon Agbasi (Accra Hearts of Oak)
Paul Reverson (Jong Ajax)
Defenders
Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK Salonika)
Gideon Mensah (Auxerre)
Marvin Senaya (Auxerre)
Alidu Seidu (Rennes)
Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano)
Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir)
Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg)
Kojo Oppong Peprah (Nice)
Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow)
Midfielders
Thomas Partey (Villareal)
Elisha Owusu (Auxerre)
Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo)
Augustine Boakye (AS St Etienne)
Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland)
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City)
Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta)
Forwards
Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)
Iñaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen)
Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyon)
Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah)
Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City)
