When Ghana’s World Cup qualifying campaign began under Chris Hughton in November 2023, few would have imagined that 46 players would wear the Black Stars jersey by the end of the road.
From debutants like Caleb Yirenkyi and Jonas Adjetey to the ever-reliable Jordan Ayew, every game felt like a new experiment, and every lineup told its own story.
But the final numbers speak of evolution. Ghana are through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a journey that stretched across two managerial reigns, countless tactical tweaks, and a squad rotation that revealed both the team’s growing depth and its search for a settled identity.
The early uncertainty
The campaign began under Hughton with cautious optimism. His side edged Madagascar 1-0 in Kumasi, but that fragile victory was followed by a sobering 1-0 defeat away to Comoros, a result that exposed the team’s lack of cohesion and sharpness.
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In those opening fixtures, Hughton leaned on experience: Daniel Amartey, Kudus Mohammed, Inaki Williams, and Jordan Ayew formed the core. But while the names looked solid on paper, performances lacked fluency. Ghana had the talent; they just didn’t have rhythm.
That brief, faltering start triggered a reset, and the return of Otto Addo, a man whose connection with the squad had never truly faded after his first stint.
Otto Addo’s rebuild
When Addo returned, he didn’t just restore belief; he opened the door wider. In his eight matches in charge, Ghana won seven and drew one, scoring freely and defending with composure.
Behind that success, though, was a constant shuffle: 46 players earned minutes across 10 qualifiers. It wasn’t chaos; it was calibration.
Gideon Mensah (9 games), Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Jordan Ayew (all 10 games) became the campaign’s heartbeat, the spine Addo could trust. Around them, he tested layers of youth and returnees.
Players like Jerome Opoku (5 games) and Benjamin Asare (6 games) quietly became key figures. Jonas Adjetey (4games) and Caleb Yirenkyi (4 games), the newcomers, earned valuable exposure.
Elisha Owusu (4 games) and Salis Samed (5 games) anchored midfield roles in different phases, ensuring the team never looked short of energy.
Every inclusion had intent, whether to plug a tactical hole, rest a senior figure, or test a new chemistry.
A blend of experience and emergence
The numbers tell a clear story of balance.
Kudus Mohammed, ever-present in all 10 qualifiers, was Ghana’s creative compass, decisive in tight games, expressive when space opened.
Thomas Partey (7 appearances) returned to fitness midway and brought control, dictating tempo from deep.
Alexander Djiku and Mohammed Salisu both played seven matches, forming Ghana’s most trusted defensive pair.
Gideon Mensah’s nine games underscored his underrated consistency at left-back, a position Ghana had struggled to stabilize in years past.
But rotation wasn’t just a necessity; it was a strategy. Injuries to key players forced Otto Addo to test his bench. Fatawu Issahaku’s ACL injury in November 2024 and Alidu Seidu’s setback left voids. Others, like Ernest Nuamah (5 games) and Kamaldeen Sulemana (5 games), filled the attacking flair.
Kojo Peprah and Prince Owusu got brief tastes of the international stage. Even veterans like Andre Ayew (one appearance) and Daniel Amartey were given symbolic roles, reminders of continuity amidst change.
The goalkeeping shift
Ghana’s goalkeeping story through the qualifiers was a quiet transformation. The campaign began with Richard Ofori, who started the first two matches under Chris Hughton.
When Otto Addo returned to take charge, he opted for Lawrence Ati Zigi in his first two games, valuing the Switzerland-based goalkeeper’s agility and international exposure.
But in March 2025, Otto Addo made a bold and defining call, handing Benjamin Asare a surprise debut against Chad.
It was a gamble that quickly paid off. Asare impressed immediately with commanding performances and assured handling, and he went on to feature in six consecutive matches, becoming the undisputed No.1 as Ghana closed out qualification in style.
The midfield
The midfield was perhaps Ghana’s biggest strength throughout the qualifiers, a blend of experience, energy, and adaptability that gave Otto Addo the tactical flexibility to shape his team to any challenge.
Thomas Partey anchored the middle in seven matches, dictating tempo and offering leadership whenever fit. Salis Abdul Samed featured in five games, providing the balance and bite that allowed Ghana to press with confidence.
Elisha Owusu, with four appearances, added control and composure in tighter fixtures, while Abu Francis and Nuhu Adams, both with two games, offered solid rotation options when Partey was unavailable.
Further depth came from Majeed Ashimeru (two games) and Kwasi Sibo (three games), each adding their own texture to the team’s midfield dynamics. Together, these players formed a revolving engine room that kept Ghana’s performances consistent across ten qualifiers.
The attack
Otto Addo’s forward line evolved game by game. Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew were ever-present, playing all 10 matches. Their movement and pressing opened doors for Inaki Williams (6 matches) and Kamaldeen Sulemana (5) to rotate fluidly across the flanks.
Then came the spark from Nuamah and Issahaku, young, fearless, and raw. Their inclusion symbolized Ghana’s next generation learning on the world stage.
By the time the campaign ended, Ghana weren’t just winning; they were entertaining, averaging nearly two goals per game under Addo, a drastic improvement from the cagey Hughton start.
Conclusion
In total, 46 players wore the Black Stars shirt during the qualification. Some came and went quietly. Others like Benjamin Asare, Gideon Mensah, Caleb Yirenkyi, Kwasi Sibo, and Jordan Ayew left lasting impressions.
But collectively, they formed the base of a squad now brimming with competition and depth.
Addo’s biggest task heading into the World Cup will be trimming his 46-man pool down to a cohesive 26. But his advantage lies in continuity, the core group that drove Ghana through qualifying will be maintained, providing stability, chemistry, and a clear tactical identity heading into the global stage.
“I don’t know what will happen in eight or nine months, but I guess the core of this squad will stay. They deserve it,” Otto Addo told 3sports.
The numbers might suggest inconsistency, but Ghana’s use of 46 players was the story of a team in transformation, rediscovering belief through adaptability.
FKA/JE
Meanwhile, watch highlights of Ghana’s 1-0 win over Comoros in the World Cup qualifiers
