FIFA World Cup: Ghana unveils 26-member squad
Accra, June 2
Ghana finally unveiled their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with head coach Carlos Queiroz forced to contend with several late injury concerns before finalising his 26-man selection.
The Black Stars had already suffered a major setback with the absence of Mohammed Kudus, who failed to recover from a thigh injury in time for the tournament.
The influential midfielder's chances of returning for the World Cup had appeared slim after he sustained a quadriceps injury in January and subsequently underwent surgery.
Ghana were dealt another blow with defender Mohammed Salisu also ruled out. The centre-back suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during a Ligue 1 match in January, ending any hopes of a timely recovery.
There was, however, a welcome return to the squad for Baba Abdul Rahman. The 31-year-old left-back is back in the national setup after a three-year absence. Although he was part of Ghana's 2022 World Cup squad, he has made just one international appearance since that tournament.
Ghana begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto before facing England and Croatia in their remaining Group L fixtures.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Joseph Anang, Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi
Defenders: Jonas Adjetey, Derrick Luckassen, Gideon Mensah, Abdul Mumin, Jerome Opoku, Kojo Oppong Preprah, Baba Abdul Rahman, Alidu Seidu, Marvin Senaya
Midfielders: Augustine Boakye, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Elisha Owusu, Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Caleb Yirenkyi
Forwards: Prince Kwabena Adu, Jordan Ayew, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Inaki Williams.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Happy to see Baba Abdul Rahman back after three years! 🇬🇭 Left-backs are crucial in modern football. India's own Sandesh Jhingan and Gurpreet Singh should take inspiration - comebacks are possible if you stay fit and focused. Ghana vs England will be a cracker to watch!
Ghana's squad looks solid but injuries ruined their preparation. Kudus and Salisu are huge losses. As an Indian football fan, I notice how African teams always produce world-class players even with limited resources. Meanwhile our ISL clubs spend crores but can't develop international-quality talent. Time for honest reflection.
It's sad how injuries always impact big tournaments. Kudus was on fire in the Premier League. But I'm impressed by Ghana's depth - they still have Partey, Ayew, and Semenyo. Group L with England and Croatia is tough, but they could surprise. India needs to watch and learn from how African teams manage their national programs.
Ghana's midfield is strong even without Kudus - Thomas Partey is world-class when fit, and Elisha Owusu does the dirty work. But their defense looks weak without Salisu. That Panama match on June 17 will decide their tournament. Indian football fans should follow World Cup closely, we need to understand what it takes to compete at this level. 🇮🇳⚽
Ghana's squad selection is decent but I wish they had more young talent emerging. Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ernest Nuamah are promising, but where are the next generation of defenders? India faces similar challenges - we rely too heavily on a few veterans instead
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