6 players yet to report as Black Stars train in Cardiff ahead of June 2 Wales friendly (LIST)
Six key players named in Ghana's 28-man provisional squad for next month's international friendly against Wales and the 2026 FIFA World Cup have yet to report to camp as the team continues preparations at Dragon Park in Cardiff.
Twenty-two players were on the pitch on Thursday as the Black Stars stepped up preparations, with Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Abdul Mumin, Kwasi Sibo, Jonas Adjetey and Prince Kwabena Adu joining the squad for the afternoon training session.
However, notable absentees include;
- Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey
- Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams
- Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo
- Spartak Moscow defender Alexander Djiku
- Nice defender Kojo Oppong Peprah, and
- Saint-Étienne midfielder Augustine Boakye
Their expected arrival dates remain unclear. The players currently in camp are goalkeepers Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Anang, Solomon Agbasi and Ajax youngster Paul Reverson. Defenders include Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Alidu Seidu, Abdul Mumin, Jerome Opoku and Jonas Adjetey. Midfielders present are Elisha Owusu, Kwasi Sibo, Caleb Yirenkyi and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku. Forwards in camp include Kamal Deen Sulemana, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Ernest Nuamah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Prince Kwabena Adu and captain Jordan Ayew.
Coach Carlos Queiroz, who named the provisional squad on Monday, will be relieved that captain Jordan Ayew and Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku are already training with the group. However, the absence of Partey, Semenyo and Williams, three of the most experienced campaigners in the squad, will be a concern as the team has only a few days left before facing Wales on June 2, 2026.
The team has already been dealt a devastating double blow, with influential playmaker Mohammed Kudus and commanding centre-back Mohammed Salisu both officially ruled out of the tournament through serious injuries. Kudus, the Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder, was left out after a quadriceps injury and subsequent rehabilitation setback ended his club season prematurely. Salisu, the AS Monaco centre-back, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in January and requires nine months to recover.
There is cause for cautious optimism elsewhere. Olympique Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah returns for the first time in nearly a year after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Former Chelsea left back Baba Abdul Rahman is also back after a strong season with Greek side PAOK. Rayo Vallecano defender Abdul Mumin has also recovered from an ACL injury, while Rennes defender Alidu Seidu returns after an injury-hit European campaign. Ajax youngster Paul Reverson received his first senior call-up.
The Black Stars opened their pre-World Cup training camp on Monday at Dragon Park in Cardiff. They will face Wales on June 2, before travelling to North America for the World Cup, where they will open their Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto, followed by England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia.
The Ghana Football Association's communications department confirmed that training continued on Thursday with the 22 players present. It remains to be seen when the outstanding six players will join the squad as Queiroz looks to finalise his preparations with a full complement of players.
