Ghana’s plans for their two-game swing through Asia have taken an unexpected twist, as a wave of high-profile withdrawals has reshaped Otto Addo’s squad at the last minute.
A cluster of Black Stars regulars, including Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Fatawu Issahaku, Joseph Paintsil, and Alexander Djiku, will not make the trip after picking up knocks or lingering injuries with their clubs.
Osei Owusu finally breaks through as Addo calls him up for Ghana’s Asian tour
Although they were originally pencilled into the travelling party, both their teams and the Ghana technical staff agreed that forcing a long flight and match minutes would be an unnecessary risk. Instead, the players will stay put and focus on recovery, with the blessing of the national team’s medical unit.
That sudden exodus has opened the door for a handful of newcomers hungry to make an impression. Otto Addo has drafted in CF Montréal forward Prince Owusu, Medeama’s teenage star Kelvin Nkrumah, and Czech-based striker Prince Kwabena Adu to bolster the group heading east.
Ghana’s reshuffled squad will first test themselves against Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup on Friday, November 14 at Toyota Stadium, before squaring up with South Korea on Tuesday, November 18. For Addo, the fixtures are more than casual friendlies, they’re a chance to size up fresh options and refine the team’s depth as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies.
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The World Cup draw is set for December 5 in Washington, where Ghana will finally discover who stands between them and another memorable run on the global stage.
