Otto Addo was sacked after the 2-1 defeat by Germany in Stuttgart in March’s friendly games. It was the fourth successive defeat for Ghana after qualifying for the World Cup.
The result proved to be the final moment for his mediocre reign after Ghanaians demanded his sacking.
The GFA replaced Addo on 13th April with the veteran Portuguese tactician, Carlos Queiroz, to lead the team to the imminent 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With less than 40 days for preparations for the tournament, the Portuguese on Wednesday announced a 23-man squad for a friendly game against Mexico.
The squad is a mixture of Ghana Premier League talents, foreign-based players and U-23 prospects.
Six players from the Ghana Premier League were called by Queiroz. The GPL has, in recent years, suffered when it comes to call-ups to the Black Stars, with Hearts of Oak’s number one goalkeeper Benjamin Asare the only player to have been an integral member of the team.
Here, Sportsworldghana walks you through the local players called by the new coach and how they have performed in the current season.
Here’s your table:
| No. | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solomon Agbasi | Hearts of Oak |
| 2 | Gidios Aseako | Dreams FC |
| 3 | Ebenezer Adade | Dreams FC |
| 4 | Razak Simpson | Nations FC |
| 5 | Ebenezer Abban | Heart of Lions |
| 6 | Salim Adams | Medeama SC |
Goalkeepers:
Solomon Agbesi
The 25-year-old is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the Ghana Premier League, even though he is the number 2 choice of Hearts of Oak. The talented goalkeeper was the number one goalkeeper for Dreams when they reached the semi-finals of the 2023-24 CAF Champions League under Karim Zito, where they lost 3-0 on aggregate against eventual winners Zamalek. Agbesi is yet to prove anything to the Phobians after making just 11 appearances since joining from Dreams, but he is still highly rated.
Gidios Aseako
21-year-old Gidios Aseako of Dreams FC was selected among the three goalkeepers for the Mexico friendly match. The youngster who has been the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Dreams FC this season will fancy his chances for a final slot in the squad for the 2026 World Cup when given the chance against Mexico. The goalkeeper undoubtedly has immense talent and will have a big stage to announce his presence.
Defenders
Ebenezer Adade
Dreams FC’s Ebenezer Adade has been given a first call-up to the Black Stars. The right-back will have a huge opportunity to showcase his enormous talent, which helped him secure a deal with Cheetah FC. After impressing this season, Adade caught the eye of the Black Stars’ scouts, who recommended him to the coach. Ebenezer Adade has made 26 appearances in the Ghana Premier League.
Razak Simpson
The giant centre-back caught the attention of Otto Addo and his technical team, and he became a part of the team that competed in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. Simpson, 27, has made 28 appearances for Nations FC, scoring three goals in the ongoing season. Simpson has received a call-up for the first time in almost 12 months. His last appearance for Ghana was on May 5th, 2025, when Ghana smashed Trinidad 4-0, where he scored his first and only goal for the Black Stars in his five appearances. Simpson once looked like a sure bet for the World Cup, but lost his position and must impress Carlos Queiroz and his staff before he will be considered.
Ebenezer Abban
Arguably the best centre-back in the last three seasons in the Ghana Premier League, Ebenezer Abban will return to the Black Stars squad since November 2024, when Ghana shockingly lost 2-1 to Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium in the qualifiers for AFCON 2025, where he played 45 minutes. The 28-year-old has proven to be reliable, having made 92 appearances and scoring 15 goals in the last three seasons for Heart of Lions in the GPL. The dependable defender will have the chance to audition for the World Cup.
Salim Adams
Medeama Sc’s bona fide midfielder is one popular name on Ghanaian journalists’ lips for a position in Quiroz’s 26-man squad to the USA, Canada and Mexico World Cup. Salim Adams could easily be voted for as the best player of the season in the GPL. The 23-year-old has made 26 appearances in the GPL, in which he has scored an incredible 12 goals in a combined 2064 minutes. The powerful box-to-box midfielder is just a goal behind Bechem United’s veteran forward Augustine Okrah in the race for the Golden Boot. It would have been surprising had Queiroz not included him in the team. Adams is one of the few players in the GPL who could earn a place in Black Stars’ final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
