Injury-Hit Ghana Name New Faces for Kirin Challenge Cup
The Black Stars of Ghana have been dealt a major blow ahead of their upcoming international friendlies in Asia against Japan and South Korea, with several key players ruled out due to injuries.
Alexander Djiku, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Fatawu Issahaku, Joseph Paintsil, and Mohammed Kudus have all withdrawn from Otto Addo’s squad after picking up knocks in recent club matches. Their absence leaves a significant void in the team’s core, affecting both experience and creativity.
In response, head coach Otto Addo has turned to a mix of youth and emerging talents to fill the gaps. CF Montreal forward Prince Osei Owusu, Medeama SC winger Kelvin Nkrumah, and Czech-based striker Prince Kwabena Adu have all earned their first senior call-ups. The trio will be eager to make an impression and stake a claim for future selections.
Ghana will face Japan on Friday, November 14, at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi, before squaring off against South Korea on Tuesday, November 18, as part of the Kirin Challenge Cup.
These matches present a valuable opportunity for Otto Addo to assess the depth of his squad and experiment with new combinations ahead of next year’s World Cup finals in North America.