Andre Ayew, the veteran forward and former captain of Ghana’s national team, has been left out of Coach Otto Addo’s squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic.
This decision marks a significant shift as Addo aims to rejuvenate the Black Stars with fresh talent.
Coach Otto Addo has rung the changes, handing first senior call-ups to midfielders Ibrahim Sulemana and Brandon Thomas-Asante. Sulemana, 21, from Cagliari, and 25-year-old Thomas-Asante, a striker from West Bromwich Albion, are the new faces in Addo’s 26-man squad.
Thomas-Asante’s inclusion comes after an impressive season in the English Championship, where he netted 11 goals.
There is also a notable return for influential Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, who missed Ghana’s matches in the March international window.
At the other end of the experience spectrum, Ayew’s exclusion is a surprise, especially after he recently scored a stunning consolation goal for Le Havre against Paris St Germain.
The 34-year-old was recalled by Addo in March but now appears to have fallen out of favor as Ghana’s new era gathers pace.
Addo, recently appointed as permanent head coach after an interim spell, is keen to put his own stamp on the team. His squad overhaul also sees a first call-up for Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Frederick Asare, the only home-based player included.
This future-oriented approach is aimed at securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with only the winners of Group I guaranteed to progress automatically.
Ghana currently sits third in the section after a mixed start, with a 1-0 home win over Madagascar followed by a 1-0 defeat to the Comoros in their first two qualifiers back in November.
The Black Stars face a challenging trip to Bamako to play Mali on June 6, before returning to Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium to host the Central African Republic four days later.
Despite an underwhelming performance at January’s Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana remains one of the favorites to top their group and secure a spot at their fifth World Cup finals.
Ghana’s Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Jojo Wollacot (Hibernian FC), Frederick Asare (Asante Kotoko)
Defenders: Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre), Ebenezer Annan (FK Novi Pazar), Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahce Istanbul), Alidu Seidu (Stade Rennes), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders: Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United), Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyon), Salis Abdul Samed (RC Lens), Ibrahim Sulemana (Cagliari Calcio), Edmund Addo (FK Radnicki Nis), Thomas Partey (FC Arsenal), Elisha Owusu (AJ Auxerre), Abu Francis (Cercle Brugge)
Forwards: Osman Bukari (RS Belgrade), Issahaku Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City, loan from Sporting CP), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Ibrahim Osman (FC Nordsjaelland), Kamaldeen Sulemana (FC Southampton), Brandon Thomas-Asante (West Bromwich)
As Ghana prepares for these crucial matches, the blend of new talent and experienced stars reflects Coach Addo’s ambition to lead the Black Stars to another World Cup appearance.
