Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko have congratulated their vice-captain, Musa Hamzata, following his maiden call-up to the Black Stars squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Somalia.
The 23-year-old centre-back is among the three debutants named by interim head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren for the two-legged encounter scheduled for this month.
Hamzata is also one of five locally based players included in the 26-man squad, joining Medeama duo Emmanuel Annor and Etse Dogli, Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, and FC Samartex defender Isaac Afful.
Following the announcement, the Porcupine Warriors took to social media to celebrate their deputy captain’s achievement, expressing delight at his inclusion in the team.
“Congratulations to our vice-captain Musa Hamzata on his first call-up to the Black Stars squad! Fabulous,” the club wrote.
Hamzata has been one of Kotoko’s standout performers this season, establishing himself as a dependable figure in the heart of the defence. He has made nine appearances in the Ghana Premier League, scoring once in the process.
His consistent performances at club level have earned him recognition from the Black Stars technical team, culminating in his first-ever invitation to the national team.
Ghana will face Somalia in Matchdays Three and Four of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with the first meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 12, at the Essipong Sports Stadium. The return fixture will take place on Monday, November 16.
The Black Stars head into the double-header under pressure following a disappointing start to their qualifying campaign, having suffered consecutive defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia during the September-October international window.
The four-time African champions currently occupy the bottom position in Group C, leaving them with little room for further setbacks as they seek to revive their qualification hopes.
Ghana are also eager to return to the continental showpiece after missing out on the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, ending a run of consecutive appearances that stretched back to 2004.
The 2027 edition will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with Ghana hoping to secure qualification and avoid another absence from Africa’s biggest football tournament.
