Otto Addo Announces Black Stars Line-Up For World Cup Qualifiers Against Chad, Mali

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has announced a 24-man squad for Ghana’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Chad and Mali in September.

The list includes established stars such as Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Gideon Mensah, Antoine Semenyo, and Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao.

New Faces and Key Returns
Union Berlin’s Derrick Arthur Köhn receives his first senior call-up after a standout campaign in Germany, impressing on loan at Werder Bremen before completing a summer move from Galatasaray to Union Berlin.

Winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, who recently joined Serie A side Atalanta from Southampton, also makes a return following a bright start in Italy. Meanwhile, Elisha Owusu has been recalled after fully recovering from a long-term injury.

Youngster Caleb Yirenkyi earns a spot after excelling with Danish club FC Nordsjaelland and catching the eye at the Unity Cup in London. Defender Tariq Lamptey is back in the squad, while Christopher Bonsu Baah and Ireland-based goalkeeper Joseph Anang also feature.

Fixtures and Context
The Black Stars will open their September qualifiers with an away trip to Chad, facing them at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena on Thursday, September 4, 2025. They will then return to Accra to host Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 8, 2025.

Ghana currently leads Group I with 15 points from six games five wins and one defeat. Comoros trail in second place with 12 points, followed by Madagascar on 10. Mali, one of the group’s biggest threats, sit in fourth with nine points. The Central African Republic occupies fifth place, while Chad, bottom of the group, have yet to register a point.

With World Cup qualification in sight, Otto Addo and his team will be aiming to solidify their position at the top of the group and move a step closer to securing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

🚨 Our men for next month’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers! 👊🏾📝

🇬🇭 We face Chad away on September 4, then take on Mali in Accra on September 8.

🔝Ghana currently tops Group I in the African Qualifiers with 15 points, after five wins and one loss from six matches.#BlackStars |… pic.twitter.com/3VEE78OXQM

— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) August 26, 2025

Source: PulseGhana