Ghana head coach Otto Addo has announced a 23-man squad for the upcoming Unity Cup 2025 in London, but the list is notable for the absence of several key Black Stars players.
Star midfielder Mohammed Kudus, vice-captain Thomas Partey, and striker Inaki Williams headline a long list of senior players who have been left out of the squad.
Also missing are Antoine Semenyo, Alexander Djiku, Joseph Paintsil, and Kamaldeen Sulemana—all of whom have been regulars in recent national team call-ups.
While the Ghana Football Association has not officially explained the omissions, it is believed that a combination of injury recovery, club commitments, and strategic rotation may have influenced the selection.
In their place, coach Addo has turned to a mix of youth and domestic talent. Notable inclusions are U-20 standouts Abdul Aziz Issah and Aaron Essel, debutant goalkeeper Joseph Tetteh Anang of St. Patrick’s Athletic in Ireland, and Danish-based rising star Caleb Yirenkyi.
Four players from the Ghana Premier League also make the squad: Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak), Razak Simpson (Nations FC), Kamaradini Mamudu (Medeama SC), and Kwame Opoku (Asante Kotoko).
There are also returns for Abdul Samed Salis, Felix Afena Gyan, and Majeed Ashimeru, who are looking to re-establish themselves in the national setup.
The Black Stars are set to begin camp in London ahead of the Unity Cup, which features Nigeria, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Ghana will face Nigeria in the semi-final at the GTech Community Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, with the final scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The Unity Cup presents an opportunity for fringe and young players to impress ahead of Ghana’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers later this year.
