World Cup 2026: Five notable omissions as Otto Addo names Black Stars squad for Austria and Germany friendlies

2026-03-17 - 04:15

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has announced his 29-man squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Austria and Germany, with several high-profile names missing from the list. Veteran forward Andre Ayew continues to be overlooked despite recent calls for his recall. The 36-year-old, who recently joined Dutch side NAC Breda and scored his first goal for the club, has not featured for Ghana since March last year. Also absent are wingers Osman Bukari and Joseph Paintsil, both of whom have been regular figures in previous squads. Goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott misses out once again, while defender Alidu Seidu is also excluded from the selection. Injuries have also played a part in the absences, with Tottenham midfielder Mohammed Kudus ruled out due to a muscle issue that has kept him sidelined since January. He is expected to return after the international break. Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams has been included in the squad, marking his return to the national setup. Addo has handed debut call-ups to four new players, including France-based right-back Marvin Senaya, as he continues to refresh the squad ahead of the World Cup. Ghana will face Austria in Vienna on March 27 before travelling to Stuttgart to take on Germany three days later. The matches serve as crucial preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.