Ghana’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are officially underway, with captain Jordan Ayew leading the early arrivals in Accra. The Leicester City forward was among the first to step off the plane at Kotoka International Airport late Sunday night, looking focused ahead of the double-header against Chad and Mali.
Ayew, one of 24 players named in Otto Addo’s latest squad, was joined by Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo, West Ham goalkeeper Joseph Tetteh Anang, midfield anchor Elisha Owusu, Jonas Adjetey, and left-back Gideon Mensah. The six players are the first wave of arrivals, with the rest of the team expected to assemble in Accra on Monday.
🎥 Arrival mode: ON ✅
Checking in, one by one… World Cup qualifiers loading. ⚡#BlackStars | #FIFAWCQ pic.twitter.com/SVCqNRyujC
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) September 1, 2025
Once the squad is complete, Otto Addo will waste no time in getting his side into gear, holding his first training session that same day as Ghana sharpen their preparations for the decisive fixtures.
The Black Stars, who currently sit atop Group I with an impressive 15 points, are looking to maintain their perfect run in the qualifiers and seal early passage to the 2026 tournament. Ghana will take on Chad on September 4 before facing Mali four days later, both matches carrying massive stakes as the road to North America 2026 heats up.
Elisha Owusu joins up with the squad.
Welcome back, Elisha! 🤗#BlackStars | #FIFAWCQ pic.twitter.com/BVAJMZGxjz— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) September 1, 2025
