The Black Stars of Ghana will be participating in the Kirin Challenge Cup without six senior players including Skipper Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey, Kudus Mohammed, Alexander Djiku, Fatawu Issahaku and Joseph Painstil.
Ghana is expected to consider the three nation tournament as part of preparation for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup but would have to do that without some experienced players of the side. Currently, invited players including three debutants are in Nagoya-shi, Japan for the tournament.
Henry Asante Twum who happens to be the Communications Director of Ghana Football Association says, the aforementioned players who did not join camp have legitimate reasons and that the association came to agreement with some players to rest while others nurse injuries.
However, their absence has nothing to do with travelling distance.
“Absentees from Black Stars squad for the Japan and South Korea friendly games are due to legitimate reasons and not the travelling distance”, he told Asempa FM.
“We all came to the agreement that some players will need to rest while others are nursing injuries, so we need to let them stay behind. The new faces in the squad have been on the list of the technical team for some time now, so it is an opportunity for them to prove their worth in these games.”
Ghana will face Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup on Friday, November 14, at Toyota Stadium in Aichi, before taking on South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.
Meanwhile, Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 African Cup of Nations.