Björkegren names 26-Man Black Stars squad for Somalia double-header as Kudus returns

Ghana’s interim coach, Kim Lars Björkegren, has named a 26-man squad for the Black Stars’ back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Somalia. The Ghana Football Association released the list ahead of the two games on Monday afternoon after severe backlash from the media.

The first match is on Thursday, 12 November 2026, kicking off at 15:00 GMT at the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi. The return leg follows on Monday, 16 November, at the same time and same venue.

The squad is headlined by the return of Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus, who has not played for Ghana in the entire 2026.

The team has three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and eight forwards.

Benjamin Asare of Accra Hearts of Oak, Lawrence Ati-Zigi of St. Gallen and Joseph Anang of St. Patrick’s Athletic will compete for the goalkeeping spot.

The defence has plenty of European experience. Gideon Mensah (FC Köln), Alidu Seidu (OGC Nice), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg), Kojo Peprah Oppong (Fenerbahce) and Salisu Mohammed (AS Monaco) are all included, alongside Isaac Afful of FC Samartex 1996 and Asante Kotoko’s Musa Hamzata.

In midfield, the coach has called up Caleb Yirenkyi of Coventry City, Thomas Partey of Al Shabab, Rahim Ibrahim of Slovan Bratislava, Daniel Kofi Kyereh of Osnabrück, Augustine Boakye of St. Etienne and Ibrahim Sulemana of Sassuolo. Medeama SC’s Etse Dogli is also in the group.

Up front, Mohammed Kudus of Tottenham Hotspur leads a line that includes Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Ipswich Town), Ibrahim Osman (Brighton and Hove Albion), Prince Adu Kwabena (FC Viktoria Plzen), Brandon Thomas Asante (Coventry City), Felix Afena Gyan (Igdir FK) and Jordan Ayew (Sheffield United). Emmanuel Annor of Medeama SC completes the attacking options.

Four of the 26 players come from the Ghana Premier League, while the rest play abroad, giving the interim coach a mix of local talent and European-based players for the two games.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers
– Benjamin Asare – Accra Hearts of Oak
– Lawrence Ati-Zigi – St. Gallen
– Joseph Anang – St. Patrick’s Athletic

Defenders

– Gideon Mensah – FC Köln
– Isaac Afful – FC Samartex 1996
– Alidu Seidu – OGC Nice
– Jerome Opoku – Istanbul Basaksehir
– Jonas Adjetey – Wolfsburg
– Kojo Peprah Oppong – Fenerbahce
– Salisu Mohammed – AS Monaco
– Musa Hamzata – Asante Kotoko

Midfielders

– Caleb Yirenkyi – Coventry City
– Etse Dogli – Medeama SC
– Thomas Partey – Al Shabab
– Rahim Ibrahim – Slovan Bratislava
– Daniel Kofi Kyereh – Osnabrück
– Augustine Boakye – St. Etienne
– Ibrahim Sulemana – Sassuolo

Forwards

– Mohammed Kudus – Tottenham Hotspur
– Abdul Fatawu Issahaku – Ipswich Town
– Emmanuel Annor – Medeama SC
– Ibrahim Osman – Brighton and Hove Albion
– Prince Adu Kwabena – FC Viktoria Plzen
– Brandon Thomas Asante – Coventry City
– Felix Afena Gyan – Igdir FK
– Jordan Ayew – Sheffield United