Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Mohammed Kudus and Alexander Djiku are back in the Black Stars as Carlos Queiroz begins a new chapter with Ghana’s national team, starting with a difficult 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash against Côte d’Ivoire.
Carlos Queiroz has unveiled his 24-man Black Stars squad for Ghana’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, followed by an international friendly against Morocco.
The squad combines several familiar faces from Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign with returning players and two new additions as Queiroz begins shaping his team for the next phase.
Most notably, Mohammed Kudus returns after missing Ghana’s World Cup campaign through injury. The Tottenham Hotspur attacker spent about seven months on the sidelines before recovering and returning to competitive football.
Experienced defender Alexander Djiku is also back after missing the World Cup because of injury.
Their return provides Queiroz with two experienced options as Ghana begins its journey towards the 2027 AFCON.
Côte d’Ivoire provides immediate test
Ghana’s first assignment will be a challenging one.
The Black Stars will travel to Bouaké to face Côte d’Ivoire on September 24, before returning home to host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29.
The international window will conclude with a friendly against Morocco in Tangier on October 4.
Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia and Somalia are in Group C of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
For Queiroz, the fixtures represent the beginning of a new mandate after the Portuguese coach was retained by the Ghana Football Association following the 2026 World Cup.
The coach has made his immediate priority clear: qualification for the 2027 AFCON, while also laying the groundwork for the 2030 World Cup cycle.
“The priority is very clear: absolute focus on AFCON qualification, with our eyes set on the 2030 World Cup,” Queiroz said.
Kudus returns after lengthy injury absence
Few names will attract as much attention as Kudus.
The Tottenham attacker missed Ghana’s entire 2026 World Cup campaign after an injury kept him out for around seven months.
His return gives Queiroz another high-profile attacking option alongside Antoine Semenyo, Ernest Nuamah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Ibrahim Osman and captain Jordan Ayew.
Kudus’ ability to create opportunities, carry the ball and contribute in the final third makes his return one of the major talking points surrounding the squad.
Djiku strengthens the defence
Djiku’s return also adds experience at the back.
The Spartak Moscow defender missed the World Cup because of a hamstring injury but has now been recalled as Queiroz looks to strengthen his defensive options.
He joins Gideon Mensah, Baba Rahman, Jan Gyamerah, Derrick Luckassen, Nathaniel Adjei, Jerome Opoku and Kojo Oppong Peprah in the defensive department.
Nathaniel Adjei is another notable returnee after almost a year away from the national team. His form with French club Lorient has earned him another opportunity with the Black Stars.
Two players earn maiden Black Stars call-ups
Queiroz has also opened the door to new talent.
Jan Gyamerah of SV Elversberg and Ronald Donkor of the New York Red Bulls have received their first senior Black Stars call-ups.
The Ghana Football Association says both players have been rewarded for their recent club performances.
Their inclusion suggests that while Queiroz intends to retain much of the core from the World Cup squad, he is also prepared to introduce players who demonstrate strong form at club level.
Queiroz puts emphasis on match fitness
The coach has also explained that current form and competitive readiness will be important factors in his selection process.
Queiroz said his technical team monitored players closely before making the final decisions and stressed that players should generally be actively competing, physically prepared and ready to represent Ghana.
He indicated that reputation alone would not guarantee selection, with club form and match fitness expected to remain important as the new cycle develops.
That approach could create greater competition for places as the Black Stars move through the AFCON qualifying campaign.
The full 24-man Black Stars squad
Goalkeepers
- Benjamin Asare — Hearts of Oak
- Lawrence Ati-Zigi — St. Gallen
- Joseph Anang — St Patrick’s Athletic
Defenders
- Gideon Mensah — FC Köln
- Baba Rahman — PAOK
- Jan Gyamerah — SV Elversberg
- Derrick Luckassen — Red Star Belgrade
- Nathaniel Adjei — Lorient
- Jerome Opoku — Istanbul Başakşehir
- Kojo Oppong Peprah — Fenerbahçe
- Alexander Djiku — Spartak Moscow
Midfielders
- Kwasi Sibo — Swehly Club
- Caleb Yirenkyi — Coventry City
- Augustine Boakye — Saint-Étienne
- Ronald Donkor — New York Red Bulls
- Ibrahim Sulemana — Sassuolo
Forwards
- Christopher Bonsu Baah — Al Qadishia
- Ernest Nuamah — Lyon
- Mohammed Kudus — Tottenham Hotspur
- Abdul Fatawu Issahaku — Ipswich Town
- Antoine Semenyo — Manchester City
- Ibrahim Osman — Brighton & Hove Albion
- Prince Adu Kwabena — Viktoria Plzeň
- Jordan Ayew — Sheffield United
The squad was officially announced by the Ghana Football Association for the September-October international window.
Black Stars fixtures
2027 AFCON Qualifier
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire vs Ghana 🇬🇭
📅 September 24, 2026
📍 Bouaké
2027 AFCON Qualifier
🇬🇭 Ghana vs The Gambia 🇬🇲
📅 September 29, 2026
📍 Accra Sports Stadium
International Friendly
🇲🇦 Morocco vs Ghana 🇬🇭
📅 October 4, 2026
📍 Tangier, Morocco
African360 Analysis
The first international window of Queiroz’s new mandate offers a mixture of continuity, returning experience and new opportunities.
Kudus and Djiku provide important reinforcements after their injury-enforced absences, while Gyamerah and Donkor introduce fresh competition.
The immediate challenge, however, is substantial. Ghana begins its AFCON campaign away against Côte d’Ivoire before facing The Gambia at home.
For Queiroz, these matches will provide an early opportunity to assess how quickly his returning players, World Cup regulars and new faces can form a cohesive unit.
The long-term objective may be the 2030 World Cup, but the immediate task is clear: build a competitive Black Stars side and begin the road to AFCON 2027.
