Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, are expected to commence a four-day training session at the Accra Sports Stadium today ahead of their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar.
Lying second in Group I with Comoros as leaders, the Black Stars will host Chad in Accra on Friday and travel afterwards to face Madagascar on March 24 in qualifiers for the showpiece to be hosted by Mexico, USA and Canada in 2026.
Today’s assembly is the next activity after Friday’s announcement of the squad for the two assignment by Head Coach, Otto Addo.
Otto Addo’s 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers would be captained by Jordan Ayew.
It has three home-based players in the persons of Accra Hearts of Oak’s Benjamin Asare, Kamaradini Mamudu of Medeama SC and Razak Simpson of Nations FC.
It also marks the return of midfielder Thomas Partey, who have been absent for a while, missing the last three African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers which Ghana failed to qualify.
Again, it offers fresh opportunities for players like Kamal Deen Sulemana of Southampton FC, Jerry Afriyie of CD Lugo, Belgium-based Christopher Bonsu Baah, who plays for Genk to establish places in the team.
The full list of players include goalkeepers-Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (FC ST. Gallen); Joseph Wollacott (Crawley Town); Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak).
Defenders: Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre); Ebenezer Annan (Red Star Belgrade); Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco); Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir); Alexander Djiku (Fernabahce); Jonas Adjetey (FC Basel); Razak Simpson 9Nations FC); Kingsley Schindler (Samsunspor) and Kamaradini Mamudu (Medeama SC).
Midfielders: Thomas Teye Partey (Arsenal FC), Elisha Owusu (AJ Auxerre); Abu Francis (Cercle Brugge); Kudus Mohammed (West Ham United) and Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyon).
Forwards: Antoine Semenyo (AFC Bournemouth); Kamal Deen Sulemana (Southampton); Jordan Ayew (Leicester City); Jerry Afriyie (CD Lugo); Inaki Williams (Atletic Bilbao) and Christopher Bonsu Baah (Genk).
According to a team’s schedule released by the FA regarding the team’s preparation for the double-header, today’s training session slated for 5pm at the Accra Sports Stadium will be opened to the public.
Tomorrow’s session will commence at 5:30pm and opened to the public but that of Wednesday would be held behind closed door.
On Thursday, there would be a pre-match press conference at 4:50pm to be followed by another training session at 5pm with the opening 15 minutes opened to the public.
Ghana are currently second in Group I with nine points from four matches with three wins and a loss. Comoros occupy the first spot with same number of points but with a goal difference.
Ghana’s qualifying campaign began with a 1-0 win over Madagascar, followed by a loss to Comoros. However, uninterrupted wins against Mali and the Central African Republic in June 2024 brought Ghana back at par with the leaders.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
