The Ghana Football Association’s Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum, has provided insights into the unexpected exclusion of Kamaldeen Sulemana and Abdul Mumin from the squad preparing for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros.
Initially part of the 25-man squad named by coach Chris Hughton last Thursday, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Abdul Mumin have been replaced by Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Medeama’s Nurudeen Abdulai, respectively.
Henry Asante Twum clarified the decision, shedding light on the coaching staff’s rationale. He explained, “At any point when you make a call-up, you need to speak to the player, you need to speak to their clubs. When the player gives you a green light, the club doesn’t have the power to stop you unless in an extreme circumstance that the player is injured.”
He continued, “Kamaldeen, after the World Cup, has played only two games for us, and he had a long injury layoff. He is now back and picking up. After talking to the technical team, the player feels he will need some time to pick up his form before availing himself for national duties.”
“With Mumin, since we exited the 2021 Afcon group stage, he hasn’t gotten closer to the team. He has recently signed for Rayo Vallecano and is now getting game time. So, he also says he will need some time to put himself together.”
The Black Stars are scheduled to play Madagascar at the Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium on Friday, November 17, and later travel to Moroni to face Comoros.