Otto Addo Announces Ghana’s 25-Man Squad for Crucial AFCON Qualifiers, Excluding Captain Thomas Partey
Ghana’s national football coach, Otto Addo, has unveiled his 25-man squad for the decisive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with some significant omissions and additions. The Black Stars will face Angola on November 15, 2024, at the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, before taking on Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium in the crucial final qualifiers for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
One of the most talked-about decisions in Addo’s squad announcement is the exclusion of team captain Thomas Partey. Despite being fit and available, the Arsenal midfielder has been dropped, sparking widespread speculation. Partey had made himself available after missing the double-header against Sudan in October, where Ghana earned a 2-0 win in the first leg but faltered in the return fixture, drawing 1-1.
Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu will also miss the upcoming fixtures after suffering a hamstring injury during Ghana’s 2-0 loss to Sudan last month. However, there is positive news for the Black Stars with the return of Lorient defender Nathaniel Adjei, who has recovered from an earlier injury and is included in the squad for the first time in recent months.
Among the key names in the squad are Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, and Fatawu Issahaku, all of whom are expected to play crucial roles in Ghana’s bid to keep their AFCON qualification hopes alive. The squad also sees the return of Ibrahim Osman and Joseph Paintsil, both of whom missed the Sudan games due to injury concerns.
In addition to the established stars, Addo has called up several fresh faces from the Ghana Premier League, including Razak Simpson of Nations FC, Isaac Afful of Samartex, and Emmanuel Antwi of Asante Kotoko, who will be hoping to make their mark at the international level.
The stakes are high for Ghana in these final qualifiers. The Black Stars must secure victories in both matches and rely on Sudan dropping points in order to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON tournament. With their qualification hopes on the line, these matches represent a critical test for Addo and his squad.
