Kirin Cup: Black Stars train with 18 players before their match against Japan

In anticipation of Ghana’s international friendly versus Japan on Friday, November 14, 2025, eighteen players have now gathered at the Ana Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nagoya.

Tuesday saw the arrival of sixteen players, including Prince Owusu and Kelvin Nkrumah, who came from Accra on Sunday.

Joseph Anang, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Derrick Kohn, Jerome Opoku, Ebenezer Annan, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Caleb Yirenkyi, Alidu Seidu, and Gideon Mensah are among the team members at camp. Abu Francis, Kwasi Sibo, Prince Owusu, Antoine Semenyo, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Kelvin Nkrumah, and Prince Adu Kwabena round them out.

Benjamin Asare, a goalkeeper for Hearts of Oak who protected the net against Asante Kotoko in Sunday’s Super Clash, is scheduled to join the team on Wednesday. Mohammed Salisu, Prince Osei Owusu, and Christopher Bonsu Baah are also anticipated on the same day.

In preparation for their Kirin Cup match against Japan, the Black Stars will hold their first training session in Nagoya on Wednesday, November 12.

The Black Stars’ squad for the friendlies against South Korea and Japan does not include Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Partey, or Issahaku.

A significant blow has been given to Ghana coach Otto Addo ahead of the team’s Asian tour: a number of important players will not be allowed to play in the forthcoming friendly.

Due to recent injuries or knocks, Mohammed Kudus, Joseph Paintsil, Fatawu Issahaku, Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey, and Alexander Djiku have all withdrawn from the team.

Despite being initially listed on the team, they will stay with their clubs to recuperate after reaching agreements with the Black Stars’ medical staff and administration. By permitting their players to travel for evaluation by the national team physicians, the clubs have chosen not to jeopardize their players’ fitness.

Ghana will face Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup on Friday, November 14, at Toyota Stadium in Aichi, before taking on South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.

To fill the gaps, Otto Addo has handed call-ups to new faces, including Prince Owusu (CF Montreal), Kelvin Nkrumah (Medeama), and Czech-based striker Prince Kwabena Adu.

These friendlies will allow Addo to assess his options ahead of Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance.

The World Cup group stage draw is scheduled for December 5 in Washington, where Ghana will learn their opponents.

Prince Kwabena Adu’s Black Stars invitation has been confirmed by Viktoria Plzen.

Prince Kwabena Adu, a forward for Viktoria Plzen, will make his debut for the Black Stars during the November international break.

The 23-year-old has received an invitation to compete against South Korea and Japan in the Kirin Cup tournament. The in-form striker will be on the team, according to Osikanitv’s exclusive report, and the Czech team’s most recent statement supported our earlier assertion.

Over the past two seasons, the striker for Viktoria Plzen has been one of Ghana’s reliable players overseas.

In Viktoria Plzen’s 2-1 victory over Teplice on the road, Kwabena Adu scored his fifth league goal of the year.

Before selecting his team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, Ghana coach Otto Addo wants to evaluate the 23-year-old.

With just one goal in four games this season, Adu has been one of the most interesting performers in the UEFA Europa League.

He made 20 league appearances in the Czech top division last season, scoring five goals.

Inaki Williams has been replaced by Brandon Thomas-Asante of Coventry City for Black Stars’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matchups against Comoros and the Central African Republic.

In his nine League games in the English Championship, the 26-year-old has scored five goals and provided three assists. He replaced Inaki Williams, who sustained an injury during Athletic Bilbao’s La Liga match against Mallorca on Saturday, preventing him from participating in this week’s qualifiers.

Williams, 31, was included in Otto Addo’s 24-man roster for the qualifying matches against Comoros and the Central African Republic. In preparation for their match against the Central African Republic on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the Black Stars are presently in Casablanca, Morocco.

Ghana will round up the qualifiers against Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

The Black Stars are chasing a fifth World Cup appearance as they currently sit at the top of Group I with 19 points and two matches to go in the qualifiers.

A budget of $1.12 million has been allocated by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation for Black Stars’ pivotal October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying round.

The Black Stars’ hopes of qualifying for the global championship will be determined by their matches against Comoros and the Central African Republic on Matchdays 9 and 10.

Sports Minister Kofi Adams stated during a press conference on Monday, September 29, that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had provided a proposal that was “within an acceptable range” and that the Ministry did not need to make any changes.

“The Ministry did not need to add any comments because the FA submitted a budget within an acceptable range,” Kofi Adams stated.

In accordance with proper process, he clarified, the Ministry sent the estimates to the Office of the President on September 19, after the GFA formally submitted them on September 18, 2025.

The Minister claims that the budget contains $387,000 for the home game against Comoros in Accra and $733,000 for the away game against the Central African Republic in Casablanca.

“The estimated total cost of the two-match engagement is $1.12 million, which is divided into $733,000 for the away game in Casablanca and $387,000 for the home game in Accra,” he continued.

Ghana will face the Central African Republic at Stade El Abdi on Wednesday, October 8, before hosting Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, in their final qualifier.

On October 8, the Black Stars will play the Central African Republic in Morocco.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Ghana’s Black Stars will play the Central African Republic in their penultimate Group I qualifier, continuing their quest for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

El Jadida, Morocco’s El Abdi Stadium will host the pivotal match.

Gaining as many points as possible against the Wild Beasts will be crucial to the four-time African champions’ hopes of qualifying for a fifth World Cup.

Ghana is presently one of the group’s top contenders, but with two games remaining, there is very little room for error.

To make sure Ghana keeps up its momentum, head coach Otto Addo is anticipated to assemble a formidable team that includes both top-performing local players and European stars.

However, considering how they have upset teams in recent qualifying campaigns, the Central African Republic should not be taken lightly.

In what may end up being the group’s deciding match, the Black Stars will host Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, October 11, after their match against El Jadida.

Both matches will be crucial in determining Ghana’s qualification destiny for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

On Friday, September 5, 2025, the Black Stars will resume training at the Accra Sports Stadium in anticipation of their pivotal 2026 World Cup qualifying matchup with Mali.

After Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Chad in N’Djamena, where Jordan Ayew’s goal in the 17th minute was negated by a late equalizer in the 90th minute at the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby Itno, Ghana is back home.

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Otto Addo’s team is still leading Group I with 16 points despite the loss, three points ahead of Madagascar in second place and four points ahead of Mali, who are in third place after seven matchdays in the African qualifiers.

The public and media are welcome to attend Friday’s training session, which is set to begin at 5 p.m. at the Accra Sports Stadium. The practice will provide supporters a sneak peek at the team’s preparation as they try to win as many points as possible against Mali on Monday, September 8, in what is expected to be a pivotal match in the competition for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ibrahim Sannie Daara, the former director of communications for the Ghana Football Association (GFA), feels that many Black Stars players are undeserving of playing for the team.

Daara’s comments surfaced Thursday afternoon at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno following the senior national team’s two-point loss to Chad in the Matchday 7 games of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana took an early lead thanks to Jordan Ayew, but Ecua Celestin of Chad tied the score in the closing seconds to deny the Black Stars the three points.

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Sannie Daara, who is currently a Senior Media Officer at the Confederation of African Football (CAF), criticized the team’s performance and emphasized that many of the players don’t deserve to play for the team.

“I wasn’t happy with what I saw from the Black Stars yesterday against Chad. I still maintain that a lot of the Black Stars players don’t deserve to be in the team,” he told Sporty FM.

“Ideally, a Black Stars midfield shouldn’t have some of the players currently there. We used to have Essien and others in that position,” he added.

Despite the setback in N’Djamena, Ghana maintain their position atop Group I with 16 points.

The Black Stars will now focus on a crucial Matchday 8 encounter against Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 8, with kick-off set for 19:00 GMT.

Black Stars arrive safely in N’Djamena

The Ghanaian Black Stars have landed in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, in preparation for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matchup with the national squad.

Following two training sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Stars left Ghana on Tuesday night.

The Ghanaian national team, which consists of players and the technical crew, landed safely in N’Djamena after hours of flying time. They will now check into their hotel to rest.

To complete preparations for their match against Chad on Thursday, September 4, the Black Stars, under the direction of Coach Otto Addo and his technical staff, will hold a last practice later on Wednesday afternoon.

On September 8, the team will travel back to Ghana to play Mali in a crucial match in Group I of the qualifications.

The Black Stars, who now lead their group with 15 points, want to collect all six points from the next two games in order to guarantee early qualifying to the Mundial the following year.