Ghana Black Stars to Open Camp on September 1 for International Duty

The Black Stars of Ghana will officially open camp in Accra on Monday, September 1, 2025, as preparations begin for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali.

READ ALSO: Black Stars squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali

The team will hold its first training sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday and Tuesday before flying out to N’Djamena on Tuesday evening for their Matchday 7 clash against Chad, scheduled for Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Ghana will face Chad at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno, a must-win encounter as the Black Stars aim to strengthen their qualification campaign. Following the away fixture, the team will return home to face Mali in another decisive qualifier on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

With World Cup qualification at stake, both fixtures are expected to be highly competitive, and the Black Stars coaching staff is anticipated to announce a strong squad for the two games. Fans across the country will be watching closely as Ghana seeks to secure vital points on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kurt Okraku, president of the Ghana FA, says the Black Stars are on pace to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Kurt E.S. Okraku, president of the Ghana Football Association, says the Black Stars are still on course to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

The West African powerhouses have turned their attention to the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournaments, which commence in September with games against Chad and Mali, after missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

In the African qualifiers for the largest soccer tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Ghana has completely dominated Group I.

Okraku confirmed the Black Stars are still on course to qualify for the World Cup tournament the following year while speaking at the 31st Ordinary Congress on Tuesday.

“Though we regretfully missed out on AFCON 2025, the Black Stars remain on track for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification in USA, Canada and Mexico” he told Congress members at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence.

The Black Stars now lead Madagascar, who are in second position, by five points. With nine points apiece, Mali and Comoros are ranked third and fourth, respectively.

After five games, Chad is in last place with no points, while the Central African Republic is in fifth place with five points.

Jordan Ayew, captain of the Black Stars, acknowledged that although Ghana wanted to win the Unity Cup, the team didn’t succeed in doing so.

The Gtech Community Stadium in London hosted a four-nation competition in which the four-time African champions competed. Ghana lost to bitter rivals Nigeria 2-1 in the semifinals to start the campaign.

The Black Stars bounced back from the early setback with a strong showing in the third-place playoff, defeating Trinidad and Tobago 4-0.

In an interview with Ghana FA media following the tournament, Ayew acknowledged the team’s strengths while expressing disappointment at not taking home the championship.

“Obviously, we needed to bounce back stronger after the loss to Nigeria. I think we didn’t start well against Nigeria, but the second half was brilliant, just that we didn’t take our chances,” Ayew said.

“We have loads of positives to pick from the two games. We wanted to win the Unity Cup, but we fell short in the first game.

“The lads played well, we created chances, scored four goals and kept a clean sheet, and that is great for us,” he added.

The Unity Cup served as part of Ghana’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Black Stars are set to face Chad and Mali in Matchdays 7 and 8, scheduled for September.

Before the Black Stars’ match against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup event, the legendary Ghanaian footballer Michael Essien paid them a visit.

The former Chelsea player met with the technical staff, which was headed by Stephen Appiah, the vice chairman of the management committee, and his old colleague Otto Addo. He also enjoyed the occasion with the national team’s players, the majority of whom hold him in high regard.

Despite a strong second half performance led by Caleb Yirenkyi, one of Essien’s students, the Black Stars lost their inaugural match against Nigeria on Wednesday. The 19-year-old and Essien had been coworkers at FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.

Ghana will be hoping to salvage some pride when they face Caribbean nation Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday.

Essien enjoyed a stellar career, playing for some of the best clubs in the world including Real Madrid.

Following his retirement in 2021, the former AC Milan midfielder decided to venture into management.

Otto Addo, the coach of the Black Stars, feels that now is the perfect moment to provide players who have been on his radar for months opportunities.

Five debutants have been added to the former Ghanaian winger’s Unity Cup roster, while Mohammed Kudus, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo, and Kamal Deen Sulemana have been left out owing to minor injuries and knocks.

Following recent victories over Chad and Madagascar that retained the nation atop the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying log, Otto Addo will captain Ghana in the Unity Cup.

“These two matches are extremely important for the team, just like the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. I believe this is the perfect time to closely observe the players we’ve been monitoring over the last few months’’ he told ghanafa.org.

‘’Team building is a process that takes time, and it’s not something that happens overnight. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to give some of our young players a chance to prove themselves. Our aim is to create competition within the team, which can only be achieved by providing an equal platform for all our talents to showcase their skills’’

‘’We’re looking beyond individuals, and focusing on building a strong team, that’s why I’ve decided to give many of these young players a chance to play and prove themselves, with the aim of making them a key part of my team going forward”.

”The Unity Cup comes at a crucial time for us, and we want to make the most of it. We’re excited to welcome back players who have been absent for months due to various reasons, as well as integrate new players into the team.” Otto Addo added.

Ghana will take on Nigeria at the GTech Community Stadium in West London on Wednesday, May 28, for a slot in the final on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

Otto Addo, the Black Stars’ coach, has decided on 23 players for the Unity Cup 2025 in London this week. The team has added four homegrown players: Kwame Opoku of Asante Kotoko, Kamaradini Mamudu of Medeama SC, Razak Simpson of Nations FC, and Benjamin Asare of Hearts of Oak.

Joseph Tetteh Anang, a former goalkeeper for West Ham United who currently plays for St. Patrick’s Athletic in Ireland, has also received his first call-up.

Aaron Essel and Abdul Aziz Issah, who played for Ghana at the most recent U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, are another.

The team also includes Belgium-based Mohammed Gadafi Fuseini of Union Saint-Gilloise and Caleb Yirenkyi, a top player who has excelled for FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish top division.

Majeed Ashimeru of Anderlecht, forward Felix Afena Gyan, and midfielder Abdul Samed Salis of Sunderland are all returning to the squad. Abdul Samed Salis is making a comeback after recovering from an injury that kept him out of action for half of the season, and Afena Gyan is rejoining the team after nearly two years away.

To start getting ready for the Unity Cup, which includes Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Nigeria, the players are anticipated to report to camp in London.

Ghana will take on Nigeria at the GTech Community Stadium in West London on Wednesday, May 28, for a slot in the final on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

Otto Addo, coach of the Ghana Black Stars, selects the team for the 2025 Unity Cup.

Brighton & Hove Albion reportedly expressed interest in the Ghanaian central defender, Terry Yegbe.

Terry Yegbe has gotten the attention of Brighton and other Premier League clubs, including Fulham and Crystal Palace as well as German sides Union Berlin and Freiburg, per KickGh.com.

READ ALSO: Black Stars coach Otto Addo awaits unpaid salaries

After leaving the Finnish team SJK Seinäjoki to join Elfsborg, Yegbe has emerged as a key player in their defense. He made 22 league appearances in his rookie campaign, tallying three goals and one assist.

He also made appearances in twelve Europa League games, highlighting his rising stature in the European arena.

According to reports, Elfsborg has set a valuation for Yegbe of about €5 million. The defender seems happy at his current club and is not actively looking for a transfer, despite the growing interest.

On the international front, Yegbe recently received his first call-up to Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, as a late replacement for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

This follows his participation with the Black Meteors at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Black Stars should work on their “fear factor” in the upcoming games.

Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the former minister for Youth and Sports, has warned Ghana Black Stars to step up their performances and not let their recent wins downplay the strength of their next 2026 World Cup qualifier matches.

Despite the victories over Chad and Madagascar, 5-0 and 3-0, respectively, the former minister seems unimpressed by their performances; Vanderpuye remains unconvinced about the team’s overall development.

READ ALSO: Black Stars to hold official training in Luanda

“I want to see a Ghana national team that will strike fear or put every other team on alert that they are playing Ghana, whether you are Argentina or Brazil,” Vanderpuye emphasised.

Despite the huge score lines, he voiced worries about the team’s development, saying that the two games played thus far show no signs of growth.

With 15 points, Ghana leads Group I, and the wins have increased the team’s chances of making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Vanderpuye’s remarks emphasize how important it is for the Black Stars to create a “fear factor” in order to be a strong opponent in future games.

Prosper Narteh Ogum, the head coach of Asante Kotoko, has urged the Black Stars’ technical staff to look far and wide for local talents to play for the senior national team.

The only local players chosen for Ghana’s recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers were three homegrown players: Nations FC center back Razak Simpson, Medeama SC defender Kamaradini Mamudu, and Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.

Asare, the goalkeeper for Hearts, made a compelling argument for the locals by playing both games in his debut call-up and replacing longtime first-choice Lawrence Ati-Zigi.

READ ALSO: Black Stars coach Otto Addo awaits unpaid salaries

The 32-year-old wrapped up two clean sheets when Ghana battered Chad by 5-0 in Accra on March 21 and defeated Madagascar 3-0 in Morocco three days later to top Group I.

Dr. Ogum believes the local league has untapped potential that deserves more attention from Ghana’s technical selectors.

“They [technical team] need to scout deeper and deeper in the [Ghana] league, and when they are able to do that, I’m sure they will have a backlog of locally good talented players who, when given the opportunity, can play,” Ogum said after their FA Cup triumph over True Democracy.

“To me, they shouldn’t just scout local players and go and put them on the bench. They should scout players who, when given the chance, will be able to compete.

“It is a clear indication that there are other players in the local league who, when given the necessary opportunity, the right opportunity, will also be able to showcase their talent. The Ghana Premier League has quality; people think that there is no quality in the Ghana Premier League (but) there is quality,” he said.

The four-time African champions now lead Group I with 15 points. Ghana will face Chad and Mali in their next set of qualifiers in September.