The Black Stars have suffered a major blow ahead of their upcoming international friendlies against Japan and South Korea, with six key players ruled out due to injury and fitness concerns.
Coach Otto Addo has named a 22-man squad that will travel to Asia without some of Ghana’s most experienced figures, including Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Alexander Djiku, Joseph Paintsil, and Fatawu Issahaku. The matches are scheduled for November 14 in Japan and November 18 in South Korea.
Kudus, one of Ghana’s brightest attacking talents, was withdrawn after sustaining a knock in recent club matches.
Partey remains out as he continues his recovery from a recurring fitness issue that has limited his playtime for both club and country.
Djiku and Paintsil are nursing injuries, while captain Jordan Ayew and Fatawu Issahaku have been excused from the tour for medical and personal reasons.
The absence of these players means Ghana will face two strong Asian sides without much of its leadership core and creative spine.
Kudus and Partey, in particular, have been central to the team’s midfield stability and attacking transitions.
Their absence is expected to test the team’s depth and tactical flexibility as Otto Addo continues to rebuild ahead of major competitions next year.
In response, Addo has called up several promising young players, giving them an opportunity to stake their claim for future selection. New faces such as Prince Osei Owusu and Kelvin Nkrumah are expected to get valuable minutes as the technical team experiments with new combinations and systems.
Despite the setbacks, the Black Stars’ coaching staff remain optimistic that the friendlies will serve as a useful test of Ghana’s evolving squad. The games will provide a platform to assess the readiness of emerging talents and evaluate tactical adjustments under real competitive conditions.
The friendlies are also being viewed as critical preparation ahead of Ghana’s next round of World Cup qualifying matches. Otto Addo and his technical team are hoping to use the fixtures to build cohesion among younger players and identify backup options for key positions.
While the absence of star names has generated concern among fans, the friendlies offer a chance for the next generation of Black Stars players to prove they can handle pressure and maintain Ghana’s footballing standards on the international stage.
The team is expected to begin training immediately upon arrival in Japan, with the technical team emphasizing discipline, fitness, and adaptability as the squad navigates one of its most challenging tours in recent months.
