Black Stars: Injuries force Hughton to call up Jerome Opoku, Schindler and Ambrosius for Mexico, USA friendlies
CHARLOTTE, NC – Coach Chris Hughton has swiftly extended invitations to Jerome Opoku, Kingsley Schindler and Stephan Ambrosius as replacements for injured players, as Ghana gear up for international friendlies against Mexico and the USA.
The Black Stars commenced their camp on Tuesday in preparation for the two games scheduled over the coming week, serving as essential build-up to the start of the African qualifiers for the 2026 Fifa World Cup next month.
Unfortunately, injuries have sidelined four of the initially called-up 23 players, necessitating these last-minute changes.
Defensive talents Tariq Lamptey, Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku, and winger Osman Bukari have withdrawn from the friendlies due to injuries sustained while playing for their respective clubs.
Coach Hughton has acted decisively in addressing the setbacks, inviting three additional players to fill the void created by the injured squad members.
Jerome Opoku, a British-born centre-back who found the net for his loan club İstanbul Başakşehir in the Turkish Süper Lig over the weekend, is among the late call-ups.
Kingsley Schindler and Stephan Ambrosius have also received last-minute invitations, both of whom had been omitted from the previous squad in September.
It is noteworthy that coach Hughton has chosen not to call up a direct replacement for the in-form Red Star Belgrade winger, Osman Bukari.
The Black Stars are set to face Mexico at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday, October 14, followed by a journey to Nashville to take on the USA at GEODIS Park three days later.
Revised Black Stars squad (22):
Goalkeepers (3):
Lawrence Ati Zigi, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Richard Ofori
Defenders (8):
Alidu Seidu, Joseph Aidoo, Nicholas Opoku, Fatawu Hamidu, Gideon Mensah, Jerome Opoku, Kingsley Schindler, Stephan Ambrosius
Midfielders (5):
Abdul Samed Salis, Elisha Owusu, Edmund Addo, Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey
Forwards (6):
Iñaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer, Joseph Painstil