Felix Afena-Gyan and Majeed Ashimeru make Black Stars return

There are moments in Ghana’s football story that feel like unfinished sentences finally finding their way back to meaning.

For Majeed Ashimeru and Felix Afena-Gyan, this latest Black Stars call-up feels exactly like that.

Twenty-three players have been named for Ghana’s upcoming international friendly against Mexico on May 22, 2026, a squad blending experience from Europe, talent from the domestic league, and a few emerging names being closely tracked ahead of Olympic qualifiers.

But the headlines belong to two familiar figures returning after long absences.

Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz announces squad for Mexico friendly

For Ashimeru, this is more than just another call-up. Once spoken of as a possible answer to Ghana’s long-standing midfield puzzle and even floated in conversations as a successor to Michael Essien’s influence, his trajectory has been repeatedly interrupted.

A muscle injury kept him sidelined for a significant period, limiting both his club and national team involvement.

His last appearance for Ghana came in May 2025, when he featured against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup in London.

On that day, he came off the bench in the 60th minute, replacing Ibrahim Sulemana in what would quietly become a long pause in his international story.

Felix Afena-Gyan’s path has been just as emotional, but for different reasons.

The forward last featured for Ghana in that same Unity Cup clash in London, also coming on in the 60th minute, replacing Jordan Ayew.

It was a cameo that carried familiarity, but also the weight of expectation.

Afena-Gyan had previously been instrumental in Ghana’s journey to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, yet heartbreak followed when he missed out on the final tournament squad, a decision that didn’t sit well with many supporters and left questions hanging over his international future.

Since then, his absence from the national team setup has been felt. This return offers him a fresh stage, and perhaps a chance to rewrite how his Black Stars story continues.

The squad also features players such as Abdul Aziz Issah, Ebenezer Annan, Ibrahim Osman, and Razak Simpson, alongside a strong group of domestic league performers led by Salim Adams of Medeama SC.

Coach Carlos Queiroz is expected to use the fixture not just as preparation for results, but as a serious test of character, rhythm, and readiness, especially for players like Ashimeru and Afena-Gyan, who now stand at another crossroads in their international careers.

The game will certainly be more than a friendly for both men. It is an opportunity to be seen again, not as reminders of what was expected, but as answers to what comes next.

FKA/JE

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