The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has moved to assure supporters that Nations FC skipper Razak Simpson remains an integral part of the Black Stars setup, despite not being named in Otto Addo’s latest squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The 25-year-old defender, who broke into the national team during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series against Angola, was conspicuously absent when Addo unveiled his 24-man list for next month’s clashes with Chad and Mali.
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GFA Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, addressed the matter during an interview with Asempa FM, stressing that Simpson’s omission should not be misinterpreted as a loss of faith in his abilities.
“Razak Simpson is still part of the team despite being left out of the squad for the Chad and Mali games,” Asante Twum explained.
“There is always a bigger pool for the technical team to select their players from, so if there is a player not here, it doesn’t mean he is not part of the team,” he added.
Simpson has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of Ghana’s most reliable defensive options, his leadership at Nations FC further bolstering his reputation. His absence from the current call-up is therefore seen as a tactical choice rather than a permanent exclusion.
The Black Stars will resume their qualification campaign on Thursday, September 4, when they travel to N’Djamena to battle Chad at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno. They will then return to Accra to host Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 8.
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Otto Addo’s men are expected to assemble in Accra on Monday, September 1, to begin preparations for the double-header, which could prove decisive in Ghana’s push for a fifth World Cup appearance.
