Anderlecht midfielder Majeed Ashimeru has been included in the Black Stars squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
This marks his return to the national team after a lengthy absence.
Ashimeru, who last played for the Black Stars during the 2023 AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast, was sidelined due to injury and missed the international friendlies in March and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June. His absence was felt as Ghana exited the 2023 AFCON at the group stage, and his recovery has been keenly anticipated by fans and selectors alike.
The 25-year-old has regained form with Anderlecht in Belgium, where he has started the season strongly, scoring the decisive goal in their recent match against Royal Antwerp. His inclusion in the 23-man squad, announced by coach Otto Addo on Thursday, is seen as a significant boost for the Black Stars.
However, the team will be missing several key players due to injury, including Kamaldeen Sulemana, Salis Abdul Samed, Ernest Nuamah, and Gideon Mensah. Despite these setbacks, the Black Stars are gearing up for their crucial qualifiers.
Ghana will open their AFCON qualifying campaign against Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium on September 5, before traveling to Morocco to face Niger on September 9. The qualifiers are vital as the top two teams from each group will secure automatic spots in the continent’s premier tournament.
