Antoine Semenyo, Alexander Djiku and Augustine Boakye yet to report as Black Stars camp hits 24 players
Four players named in Ghana's 28-man provisional squad for the international friendly against Wales and the 2026 FIFA World Cup have yet to report to camp in Cardiff, as the Black Stars stepped up preparations with twenty-four players taking part in Saturday's training session at Dragon Park.
The squad was boosted by the arrival of Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey and Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams on Saturday morning, with both players going straight into the team's training session. Their arrival follows the twenty-two players who have been in camp since Tuesday.
However, Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, Spartak Moscow defender Alexander Djiku, Saint-Étienne midfielder Augustine Boakye, and Nice defender Kojo Oppong Peprah remain absent from camp. 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, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Thomas Partey. Forwards in camp include Kamal Deen Sulemana, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Ernest Nuamah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Prince Kwabena Adu, Inaki Williams and captain Jordan Ayew.
The absence of Semenyo, who is coming off a superb Premier League season with Manchester City and is expected to lead Ghana's attack at the World Cup, will be a concern for coach Carlos Queiroz. Also missing is Alexander Djiku, a key figure in Ghana's defence, as well as Augustine Boakye and Kojo Oppong Peprah.
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 World Cup through serious injuries. Kudus was left out after a quadriceps injury and subsequent rehabilitation setback ended his club season prematurely, while Salisu 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, while Rayo Vallecano defender Abdul Mumin has recovered from an ACL injury.
The Black Stars will face Wales in an international friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 6:45pm. Following the friendly, the team will travel to North America for the World Cup, where they will open their Group L campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, before facing England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia.
The Ghana Football Association communications department confirmed that training continued on Saturday with the twenty-four players present. It remains to be seen when the outstanding four players will join the squad as Queiroz looks to finalise his preparations with a full complement of players before Tuesday's friendly.
