Sports
President Simeon-Okraku visits Black Stars as Ghana prepares for 2025 AFCON qualifiers
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, watched the Black Stars’ opening day training in Accra ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
President Simeon-Okraku attended the team’s training session in the company of Vice-President Mark Addo and Executive Council member, Samuel Aboabire at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday September 2, 2024.
Ten (10) players trained on Monday with Coach Otto Addo expecting the arrival of the remaining squad members for the double-header.
The President shook hands and exchanged heartwarming pleasantries with the Coaches and players at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars will take on the Palancas Negras of Angola in the opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, on Thursday September 5, 2024, before traveling to Berkane, Morocco, to take on Niger on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Twenty-three (23) players have been called up for this month’s international friendly against Mexico.
The squad is composed of star players from the domestic league and European leagues who are closely monitored by Coach Carlos Queiroz, as well as U-23 players who will soon represent Ghana in the upcoming Olympic Games qualifiers.
Notable names include Majeed Ashimeru, Felix Afena-Gyan, Razak Simpson, and Birmingham City’s Ibrahim Osman.
Ashimeru returns to action after a long spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury that limited his appearances at both club and national level.
Also in the team is Felix Afena-Gyan, whose last appearance for Ghana was in May last year when he featured against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup in London.
Barcelona B’s Abdul Aziz Issah, Ebenezer Annan of AS Saint-Étienne, Ibrahim Osman of Birmingham City, and Paul Reverson of Ajax FC have also been included in the squad.
Midfielder Salim Adams, one of the key players for Ghana Premier League leaders Medeama SC, leads the group of home-based players.
Others are Heart of Lions’ Ebenezer Abban, Ebenezer Adade of Dreams FC, and Nations FC captain Razak Simpson. Ghana will travel to Mexico for the international friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the dates for the qualifiers of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
The qualifiers will run from September 2026 to March 2027, with the final tournament set for June 19 to July 17, 2027. Ghana will know their group opponents after the draw on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Forty-eight (48) teams will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the competition.
The 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in three East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Find the dates for the qualifiers below:
