Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Henry Asante Twum, has clarified the reasons behind the exclusion of some senior Black Stars players from the squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Japan and South Korea.
Head coach Otto Addo left out notable names such as Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, opting instead to give opportunities to emerging talents including Kelvin Nkrumah, Prince Kwabena Adu, and Prince Osei Owusu.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Asante Twum explained that the decision was based on legitimate considerations rather than the long travel distance to Asia.
“Absentees from the Black Stars squad for the Japan and South Korea friendly games are due to legitimate reasons and not the travelling distance,” he said.
“We all came to an agreement that some players will need to rest while others are nursing injuries, so we had to let them stay behind. The new faces in the squad have been on the radar of the technical team for some time now, and this is an opportunity for them to prove their worth in these games.”
He further noted that the friendlies form part of a broader development plan aimed at building a strong team for future competitions.
“These friendly games are aimed at working on something within the Black Stars setup and among the players. We just want to make use of the best talents for the future,” he added.
The Black Stars opened camp on Tuesday, November 11, and are expected to hold their first training session today.
Ghana will face Japan in the Kirin Cup on Friday, November 14, before taking on South Korea on November 18. The matches are part of the team’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.