Ghana Black Stars face squad changes ahead of AFCON qualifiers

Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, is facing significant squad changes ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Head coach Carlos Queiroz has had to navigate several high-profile withdrawals due to injury and fitness concerns. Notably, Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus has opted out of the squad to focus on his physical recovery, while Antoine Semenyo and Thomas Partey are also unavailable.

To bolster the team, Queiroz has called up nine additional players, including Rockson Yeboah from Osasuna, Jonas Adjetey, Alidu Seidu, Ebenezer Annan, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh, and Felix Afena-Gyan.

Queiroz has emphasized a long-term vision for the squad, stating that the current qualifying cycle is a step toward building a team capable of competing in the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars are scheduled to begin their campaign with a match against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, followed by a fixture against The Gambia in Accra and a friendly against Morocco.