Kudus, Salisu & Kyereh return as Kim Lars names 26 for Somalia

Interim Black Stars coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has named a 26-man squad for the doubleheader Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Somalia.

Ghana are without a point going into the game and will go all out against the Ocean Stars at Essipon Sports Stadium, which hosts the second leg as well.

Over the weekend, some players, notably Daniel Kofi Kyereh of VfL Osnabruck, were spotted in Accra with high speculations that they are headed for camping for the qualifiers.

On Monday, Kim Lars Bjorkegren, who also doubles as Black Queens coach, released his squad for the games.

Aside Kyereh, AS Monaco’s Mohammed Salisu and Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus are also returning to the team after missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup through injury. The latter had rejected a call-up by Carlos Queiroz last month for the start of the qualifiers.

Captain Jordan Ayew and his deputy, Thomas Partey, also return to the team after missing the last international duty.

Five locally-based players have also been named in the squad.

Perennial call-up Benjamin Asare is among the goalkeepers while FC Samartex’s Isaac Afful returns for his second stint with the team.

Asante Kotoko’s Musa Hamzata gets his debut call-up, together with Medeama duo of Etse Dogli and Emmanuel Annor, who played in the Black Galaxies team in the past.

Find the squad below:

GOALKEEPERS: Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Joseph Anang

DEFENDERS: Gideon Mensah, Isaac Afful, Alidu Seidu, Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Pepra Oppong, Salisu Mohammed and Musa Hamzata

MIDFIELDERS: Caleb Yirenkyi, Etse Dogli, Thomas Partey, Rahim Ibrahim, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Augustine Boakye and Ibrahim Sulemana

STRIKERS/ATTACKERS: Mohammed Kudus, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Emmanuel Annor, Ibrahim Osman, Prince Adu Kwabena, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan and Jordan Ayew