Carlos Queiroz Names Black Stars Squad for World Cup Preparation
Carlos Queiroz has shown his hand. The Black Stars head coach has named a 28-man group for Ghana’s World Cup preparation camp and the high-profile friendly against Wales in Cardiff, a squad that blends returning experience, long-awaited comebacks, and a glimpse of the future.
The list is heavy and deliberate: five goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards. This is not a casual get-together. It is the launchpad for a World Cup campaign that will take Ghana across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Camp opens in Cardiff
The squad opened camp on Monday, May 25, 2026, settling into work at Dragon Park in Cardiff. The facilities there will stage the early battles for places, sharpness, and rhythm before Ghana step out against Wales on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Queiroz wants intensity early, and the setting suits it. A focused camp, one test against a strong European side, and then straight into the final stretch before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Baba Rahman’s road back
One of the headline stories is a familiar name. Baba Abdul Rahman is back.
The Greece-based left back, now with PAOK, returns to the national setup for the first time since September 2023. His recall is a reward for consistency rather than sentiment. Rahman has put together 35 appearances this season, adding three goals and three assists across all competitions, numbers that speak of a defender who has rediscovered both fitness and confidence.
Once of Chelsea, long scrutinised and often doubted, he now walks back into the Black Stars picture with form as his strongest argument.
Ernest Nuamah returns to the stage
On the opposite flank of the pitch, another comeback carries a different kind of emotion.
Ernest Nuamah, the Olympique Lyon winger, has been out of the Ghana squad for close to a year. An anterior cruciate ligament injury cut him down and kept him away from the international stage for more than 12 months. Now he is back to full fitness and back in the fold.
For a side that will need pace and directness in North America, his return is significant. Nuamah offers both, and Queiroz clearly believes the winger can hit his stride in time for the tournament.
Defensive reinforcements and midfield options
The list of returnees does not end there.
Abdul Mumin of Rayo Vallecano also re-emerges after his own lengthy absence with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. A fit and sharp Mumin gives Ghana another option in central defence, an area that will be tested by the variety of opponents in Group L.
In midfield, Saint-Étienne’s Augustine Boakye is back. His inclusion adds another layer of energy and creativity in the middle of the park, qualities that will be vital against contrasting styles from Panama, England and Croatia.
Stade Rennes defender Alidu Seidu also re-joins the group, reinforcing the defensive unit with his aggression and versatility. With Wales on the immediate horizon and the World Cup beyond, Queiroz now has a broader defensive palette to work with.
A look to the future: Paul Reverson
Among the more intriguing names is Ajax Amsterdam youngster Paul Reverson.
The 20-year-old has been drafted in after impressing for Ajax’s youth side in the Netherlands. This is not a token call-up. Queiroz and his staff want a closer look, with a clear long-term view in mind. For Reverson, Cardiff becomes both an audition and an education, training alongside established internationals while the coaching staff assess how quickly he can bridge the gap.
World Cup path takes shape
The squad will assemble fully in Cardiff on Monday, May 25, 2026, sharpening up for the Wales friendly and, more importantly, for the World Cup journey that awaits.
Ghana’s route in Group L is already mapped out. The Black Stars open against Panama in Toronto, a game they will be expected to control but cannot afford to underestimate. Then comes England in Boston, a clash loaded with narrative and intensity. Croatia in Philadelphia rounds off the group, a meeting with one of Europe’s most tactically disciplined sides.
Queiroz’s 28-man selection is the first concrete step toward those nights in Toronto, Boston and Philadelphia. The names are on paper now. The real question is which of them will still be standing when the World Cup lights come on.
