Queiroz Names 28-Man Black Stars Squad for World Cup Preparations and Wales Friendly

Head coach of the Ghana national team, Carlos Queiroz, has named a 28-man squad for the Black Stars’ preparation camp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the international friendly against Wales in Cardiff.

The squad, which comprises five goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards, officially opened camp on Monday, 25 May 2026, and has already begun training at Dragon Park in Cardiff in readiness for the friendly encounter against Wales on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

Among the notable returnees is Greece-based defender Baba Abdul Rahman, who earns a recall for the first time since September 2023 following an impressive campaign with Greek side PAOK. The former Chelsea FC left-back has enjoyed a strong season, making 35 appearances while contributing three goals and three assists across all competitions.

Also returning to the squad is Ernest Nuamah. The Olympique Lyonnais winger makes his comeback after nearly a year on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Defender Abdul Mumin of Rayo Vallecano also returns after recovering from a lengthy injury layoff, while Augustine Boakye of AS Saint-Étienne and Alidu Seidu of Stade Rennais FC have also been recalled to the national team.

One of the fresh faces in the squad is 20-year-old Paul Reverson, who currently plays for the youth side of AFC Ajax. The youngster has been invited for further assessment as part of the technical team’s long-term plans after impressing in the Netherlands.

The Black Stars will use the Wales friendly as part of their final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Ghana are scheduled to open their Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto before facing England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia.

About The Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

See author's posts