Ghana’s Black Stars have received a major attacking boost as Mohammed Kudus returns to the national team squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while experienced midfielder Thomas Partey has been left out following his recent injury troubles.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz has named a 24-man squad for Ghana’s important international fixtures against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, as well as a friendly against Morocco.
Kudus’ comeback is one of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement. The Tottenham Hotspur star has been away from international football after an injury kept him sidelined for several months and forced him to miss Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. He has now recovered sufficiently to earn a recall as the Black Stars begin their push for qualifi
🫡 All set for the task ahead! ✊🏾
📋 Head Coach Carlos Queiroz has named the squad for our upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
⏳ #BlackStars will also face Morocco in an international friendly.
🇨🇮 vs 🇬🇭 (24 September – Bouaké)
🇬🇭 vs 🇬🇲 (29… pic.twitter.com/qD0jGe3KZM— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) September 18, 2026
cation to AFCON 2027.
Thomas Partey, however, is a notable absentee. The Al Shabab midfielder recently returned to training after suffering an injury that had kept him out of competitive action since August. Despite making progress in his recovery, Partey was not included in Queiroz’s latest squad.
Several other familiar names have also returned, including Alexander Djiku, Nathaniel Adjei, Ibrahim Osman and Ibrahim Sulemana. New York Red Bulls midfielder Ronald Donkor has earned his first senior Black Stars call-up following his performances in Major League Soccer.
Ghana will open its AFCON qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire on September 24 before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29. The Black Stars will then travel to face Morocco in an international friendly on October 4.
With Kudus back in the fold and Partey unavailable, attention will now turn to how Queiroz reshapes his midfield and attack as Ghana begins another crucial journey toward continental qualification.
