Kyereh back after four years, Kudus and Jordan Ayew return as Ghana seek AFCON revival against Somalia
Mohammed Kudus is set to make his first Ghana appearance of 2026, while Daniel-Kofi Kyereh has returned to the Black Stars squad for the first time in almost four years ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifying double-header against Somalia.
Captain Jordan Ayew and defender Alidu Seidu are also back as caretaker coach Kim Lars Björkegren strengthens his squad for two matches Ghana need to win to revive their qualification campaign.
Ghana have lost their opening two Group C qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia and sit bottom of the section without a point.
Kudus’ return is one of the biggest boosts for the Black Stars.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward has not played for Ghana this year after an injury ruled him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Kyereh’s comeback is even longer awaited.
The VfL Osnabrück midfielder has been absent from international football since December 2022 after a serious injury disrupted his career and is now back in the national squad for the first time in nearly four years.
Jordan Ayew also returns after missing the previous qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia because of a groin problem.
The experienced forward remains one of the senior figures in the squad and will again provide leadership as Ghana attempt to recover from their difficult start.
Seidu is another returnee, while Brighton & Hove Albion forward Ibrahim Osman is also included in the 26-man group.
Björkegren has also rewarded performances in the Ghana Premier League by calling up three locally based players.
Musa Hamzata of Asante Kotoko, and Medeama duo Etse Dogli and Emmanuel Annor, have been brought into the senior squad after impressing domestically.
Hamzata provides another option in defence, while Dogli strengthens midfield and Annor has been selected among the forwards.
FC Samartex defender Isaac Afful is also included, while Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare retains his place among the three goalkeepers.
Ghana’s squad still contains several established overseas-based players, including Thomas Partey, Caleb Yirenkyi, Gideon Mensah, Jonas Adjetey, Mohammed Salisu and Prince Adu Kwabena.
The Black Stars opened camp in Accra on Sunday, 8 November, before the two matches.
Ghana will host Somalia at the Sekondi Sports Stadium on Thursday, 12 November at 15:00 GMT, before the sides meet again on Monday, 16 November at 15:00 GMT.
With Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia both making perfect starts to the group, the Somalia double-header offers Ghana a crucial opportunity to collect their first points and force their way back into the qualification race.
Ghana squad for Somalia
Goalkeepers:
Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak, Ghana)
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen, Switzerland)
Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s Athletic, Ireland)
Defenders:
Gideon Mensah (FC Köln, Germany)
Isaac Afful (FC Samartex 1996, Ghana)
Alidu Seidu (OGC Nice, France)
Jerome Opoku (İstanbul Başakşehir, Türkiye)
Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg, Germany)
Kojo Peprah Oppong (Fenerbahçe, Türkiye)
Salisu Mohammed (AS Monaco, France)
Musa Hamzata (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)
Midfielders:
Caleb Yirenkyi (Coventry City, England)
Etse Dogli (Medeama SC, Ghana)
Thomas Partey (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia)
Rahim Ibrahim (Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia)
Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (VfL Osnabrück, Germany)
Augustine Boakye (St. Étienne, France)
Ibrahim Sulemana (Sassuolo, Italy)
Forwards:
Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur, England)
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Ipswich Town, England)
Emmanuel Annor (Medeama SC, Ghana)
Ibrahim Osman (Brighton & Hove Albion, England)
Prince Adu Kwabena (FC Viktoria Plzeň, Czech Republic)
Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City, England)
Felix Afena-Gyan (Iğdır FK, Türkiye)
Jordan Ayew (Sheffield United, England)