Sports
We don’t need unfit players at the World Cup!
Otto Addo – Ghana coach
It is exactly eight days left to the start of the 2022 Qatar World Cup tournament.
And, for many Ghanaians, the Black Stars would have to show up and be counted – exorcising the demons that haunted them at the 2018 Mundial in Brazil which saw the team crash out in the opening round.
The worry of the fans, however, is the kind of team that Ghana is showcasing for the one-month quadrennial festival, in view of rumours making the rounds that a decent number of the players are concealing their injuries to be able to make the final cut. This is not strange at all.
Indeed, we have a disturbing history of sending injured players to tournaments, hoping that they would recover early enough for games. Ridiculous, right?
In the last African Cup of Nations held in Cameroon in January this year, Mohammed Kudus was named in the Ghana squad, even though he was recuperating from a rib injury that had seen him out of action since November 2021.
Similarly, Mubarak Wakaso
was recovering from injury and looked all-too unfit for that tournament, yet, found himself in the final cut for the biennial contest.
Any surprise that the Black Stars were flushed out of the campaign in the first round, losing even to Comoros 3-2 in the final Group C game?
It is believed that the likes of Freiburg midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyere – who missed his side’s Bundesliga win over Cologne at the weekend and Tariq Lamptey – an unused substitute in Brighton win at Wolves, are all not fit enough. Kamaldeeen Sulemana also missed Rennes clash against Lille due to injury. Bristol City forward Antoine Semenyo is believed to be unfit.
As a matter of fact, Ghana’s medical team must be facing an integrity crisis with the number of players believed to be carrying injuries named in the provisional 55-man squad announced by the Ghana FA last Friday.
The work of Dr Prince Pambo, the new Black Stars’ Team Doctor, is now well cut out – and would attract the cynosure of thousands of eyes, as Ghana names its final 26-man squad for Qatar.
Dr Pambo is known to be a no-nonsense personality in this regard and would be expected not to play to the gallery.
Perhaps, by the time this piece comes out, Ghana may have unveiled their final set of players for the Qatar mission.
It does not, however, negate the fact that Ghana needs a formidable, loyal, fit and determined band of players to represent the nation. We need a team of players whose performance can carve out victories. We need players who are prepared to die for the shirt, anytime – and grind the result in the midst of very Herculean challenges.
That the Stars have won just two of their 12 matches this year, is a biting concern. Ghana were held to a 1-1 draw by the Central African Republic, ranked 132 in the world by FIFA, in their first AFCON qualifier in June, before being thrashed 4-1 by Japan and drawing 0-0 with Chile in the Kirin Cup tournament in June. The team also slumped 0-3 to Brazil and managed a slim 1-0 win over Nicaragua in the international friendly double-header in September.
Ghana meet Switzerland on November 17, three days before the World Cup commences and the Stars’ performance in that game should give us a hint as to what form they are carrying to the tournament.
The four-time African champions will battle old foes Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea in Group H.
Sports
Black Starlets arrives in Morocco on U-17 AFCON mission …FA boss charges team to make Ghana proud
The Black Starlets, the national U-17 male team, have safely arrived in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team departed Accra on Wednesday, travelling with a 35-man contingent made up of 21 players and 14 officials, all focused on delivering a strong campaign on the continental stage.
They completed a smooth five-hour flight to Morocco, where final preparations will continue before the tournament kicks off.
The technical team is expected to fine-tune tactics and build cohesion among the squad as they gear up for the competition.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, was present at the Accra International Airport to bid farewell to the team.
Speaking during a brief farewell at the Airport, the FA President urged the team to carry a ‘never say die’ spirit into the competition.
President Simeon-Okraku emphasised the importance of mental strength and unity, particularly in difficult moments during matches. His message was inspired by the team’s recent friendly encounters against Cote d’Ivoire, where they bounced back strongly after an initial defeat.
“I’m very happy that when you lost to Cote d’Ivoire in your first game during your friendly matches, you were able to bounce back—not only to dominate but to outscore them in the second game,” he said. “I read a lot of meaning into that, and I want all of you to keep that in your heads—that, it’s not over until it’s all over,” he added.
The FA president stressed that the ability to respond positively to setbacks would be crucial in a tournament as competitive as the AFCON.
He encouraged the players to stay united and support one another when the pressure intensifies on the continental stage.
“When the chips are down, that’s when we need to hold each other together,” Okraku added. “So go out there and make Ghana proud.”
Ghana will compete in Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa, with their opening match scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
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.
