L-R: Kudus, Partey, Dede Ayew and Semenyo will be missing in Black Stars’ game against Nigeria
Eight key players were exempted from the Black Stars squad that will be taking on Nigeria in the Unity Cup on May 28, 2025.
Several big players have been left out of the squad for various reasons, including injuries, manager’s preferences, and club duties, as head coach Otto Addo announced the full squad on Monday, May 26, 2025.
The Black Stars will compete in a four-nation tournament with a high-profile semi-final clash against long-time West African rivals Nigeria scheduled for May 28, 2025, at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, with a kick-off time of 19:00 GMT.
In this article, GhanaWeb Sports highlights the eight key players who were exempted from the squad:
Mohammed Kudus
One of the players is attacker Mohammed Kudus, who scored in West Ham United’s 3-1 win over Ipswich Town in the last game of the Premier League.
The exact reason for his absence is yet to be revealed.
Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo found the back of the net twice during Bournemouth’s last game of the season against Leicester City on May 25, 2025, in the Premier League.
Despite playing a pivotal role in the team’s massive wins against Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, he was omitted from the list.
Dede Ayew
Black Stars forward Andre Dede Ayew has missed yet another international call-up despite his good run of form for French side Le Havre.
Ayew has been sidelined from the national team since Otto Addo took over in March 2024, signaling a possible move away from the 34-year-old veteran.
He is Ghana’s fourth-highest goal scorer in the top five leagues, with four goals.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was exempted from the Black Stars squad for the Nigeria game.
Having played a pivotal role in the team’s previous matches, his absence will likely impact their performance, with the reason not known yet.
Ernest Nuamah
Nuamah was exempted from the squad after sustaining an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury while playing for club side Olympique Lyonnais.
The player has undergone successful treatment and is in the process of recuperating.
Iñaki Williams
Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams was left out of the squad by head coach Otto Addo for the Unity Cup competition.
The attacker, who has found his form for the Black Stars in recent matches, absence from the team is surprising, with the La Liga season having ended.
The exact reason for the exclusion has not been disclosed yet.
Kamaldeen Sulemana
Southampton winger Sulemana, who has been struggling this season, could not make the list despite not having any injuries following the conclusion of the Premier League.
Alexander Djiku
Fenerbahçe defender Alexander Djiku also missed the squad announced by head coach Otto Addo.
With the reason not disclosed yet, Djiku has been one of the best defenders for the team, forming a partnership with Mohammed Salisu at the back to aid the Black Stars’s wins against Madagascar and Chad in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
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