Ghana assistant coach Desmond Ofei has described the Black Stars’ upcoming international friendly against Mexico national football team as a major opportunity for players to impress new head coach Carlos Queiroz ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to Flashscore after the release of Ghana’s squad for the May 22 clash, Ofei stressed that the game is far more than a routine preparatory fixture, especially for the players selected.
The 23-man squad named by Queiroz for the friendly includes six home-based players, several uncapped talents and a number of fringe internationals seeking to cement their places in the national team setup.
Because the match falls outside the FIFA international calendar, several regular stars are unavailable, opening the door for emerging talents and U23 players to stake their claim before the World Cup squad announcement on June 1.
Ofei said the technical team intentionally assembled a group of ambitious and talented players eager to prove themselves both to the country and the new coaching staff.
“For the upcoming game against Mexico, we have selected a very talented and ambitious group of players from our local league, alongside some exciting U23 talents and players who are highly motivated to show their qualities to the nation and to our new head coach, Mr Carlos Queiroz,” Ofei told Flashscore.
The friendly is expected to provide Queiroz with a final assessment platform before naming Ghana’s 26-man World Cup squad.
