Kudus, Nuamah, Paintsil: Big names missing from Black Stars Squad

The Black Stars squad announced by head coach Otto Addo featured some notable omissions ahead of the friendly matches to prepare the team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana will first travel to Vienna to face Austria on March 27, before heading to Stuttgart for a high-profile clash against Germany on March 30, 2026.

The matches are expected to provide a strong test for Ghana as the team continues preparations for upcoming international competitions.

Otto Addo names Black Stars squad for Austria and Germany friendlies

Some of the players excluded from the squad include:

Kudus Mohammed – The Tottenham Hotspur winger is recovering from a quadriceps tendon injury sustained against Sunderland in January 2026.

Reports suggest he is expected to return in April and feature for his club before the World Cup.

Joseph Paintsil – The LA Galaxy forward was likewise left out of the squad, with no clear explanation provided, prompting questions in light of his strong recent form.

Ernest Nuamah – The Olympique Lyonnais forward is still recovering after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2025. He has begun rehabilitation but requires more time to fully recover.

Tariq Lamptey – The defender is also recovering from an ACL injury sustained in 2025. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation, with the technical team opting to give him time to recover ahead of the World Cup.

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