Black Stars coach Otto Addo has named four debutants in his 26-man squad for this month’s international friendlies against Austria and Germany, as Ghana steps up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The newcomers — Derrick Luckassen, Marvin Senaya, Daniel Agyei and Patrick Pfeiffer — have all earned their first call-ups and are expected to link up with the team in Vienna ahead of the two high-profile fixtures.
Senaya, who plays for French Ligue 1 outfit AJ Auxerre, has steadily built his career since making his professional debut in 2021. The versatile defender has previously had spells with Strasbourg, Sochaux and Lausanne-Sport.
Agyei, an England-born forward, has also been rewarded with a maiden invitation following his performances for Turkish side Kocaelispor. He previously played in England for clubs such as Burnley, Oxford United and Crewe Alexandra before moving abroad.
Pfeiffer, a defender with German Bundesliga II side Darmstadt 98, completes the list of debutants as Addo looks to strengthen his defensive options ahead of the international assignments.
The squad also sees the return of several key players, including Iñaki Williams, Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku and Ibrahim Sulemana, all of whom are expected to play significant roles in the upcoming matches.
Ghana’s goalkeeping department will be led by Lawrence Ati-Zigi, alongside Benjamin Asare and Joseph Anang. In defence, the coach has assembled a mix of experience and youth, with players such as Gideon Mensah, Jerome Opoku and Jonas Adjetey included.
The midfield will feature the influential Partey, supported by Elisha Owusu, Ibrahim Sulemana and Kwasi Sibo, while the attack boasts a blend of pace and creativity with Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Brandon Thomas-Asante all making the cut.
The Black Stars will take on Austria in Vienna on March 27 before travelling to Stuttgart to face Germany on March 30 in what are expected to be stern tests for the team.
The matches form part of Ghana’s preparations for the World Cup, with Addo using the opportunity to assess new talent and fine-tune his squad ahead of the qualifiers and the tournament itself.
Goalkeepers:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
Defenders:
Patrick Pfeiffer (SV Darmstadt), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos FC), Derrick Kohn (Union Berlin), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland), Kojo Oppoong Pepprah (OGC Nice), Jonas Adjetey (VFL Wolfsburg), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre)
Midfielders:
Thomas Partey (Villareal), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Ibrahim Sulemana (Cagliari), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo),
Forwards/Wingers:
Brandon Thomas Asante (Coventry City), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City), Prince Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City), Inaki Williams (Atletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Kamal Deen Sulemana (Atalanta), Daniel Agyei (Kocalispor).
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh