Ghana 2026 World Cup Squad: The Black Stars, a Sacked Coach, and Carlos Queiroz's Emergency Mission
Ghana fired the coach who qualified them for the World Cup 72 days before it started.
Otto Addo delivered eight wins, one draw and one loss through qualifying — topping their CAF group with 25 points and a goal difference of +17. Then came four consecutive friendly defeats: a 5-1 hammering by Austria in Vienna followed by a 2-1 loss to Germany in Stuttgart. The Ghana Football Association called an emergency meeting and terminated his contract effective immediately.
Enter Carlos Queiroz. The 73-year-old Portuguese coach — former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, former head coach of Real Madrid, Portugal, Iran, Egypt, and Colombia — appointed in April 2026 with weeks to prepare a squad for Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.
It is Ghana's fifth World Cup appearance. Their best performance remains the 2010 quarter-final run in South Africa, where Asamoah Gyan's penalty hit the post against Uruguay and broke a nation's heart. That generation is gone. This one is different — younger, more European-based, more technically complete. Whether Queiroz can organise them in time is the question.
The Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Queiroz needs no introduction. His resume spans decades of the highest level of football — assistant manager at Manchester United under Ferguson, head coach of Real Madrid, and multiple international appointments across Iran, Portugal, Egypt, and Colombia. He is one of the most experienced international coaches alive.
His appointment is a gamble on pedigree. With barely six weeks between appointment and the opening game, Queiroz will not have time to install a complex system. What he will bring is defensive organisation, man-management of experienced players, and the composure to prepare a squad for the biggest stage without panic.
His systems typically rely on a well-drilled defensive block, a physical midfield presence, and releasing quality forwards on the counter. Thomas Partey — if fit — is exactly the kind of disciplined, physical midfielder Queiroz builds around. Antoine Semenyo's direct running and Kamaldeen Sulemana's pace give him the wide threats he needs to be dangerous on the break.
Addo had adopted a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation that easily shifted into a 3-4-3 when in possession, allowing Ghana to control the midfield while maintaining width and pressing intensity. Queiroz will likely simplify — a compact 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 that is easy to embed quickly and hard to break down.
Expected Formation: 4-3-3
Partey as the defensive anchor. Owusu and Boakye as the dynamic runners either side. Iñaki Williams through the middle with Fatawu and Semenyo providing width and direct running. Queiroz will prioritise defensive solidity first — Ghana cannot afford to concede early against England or Croatia.
Goalkeepers
Lawrence Ati-Zigi — St. Gallen
Ghana's first-choice goalkeeper. Ati-Zigi has been one of the most consistent performers in the Swiss Super League and brings genuine quality in shot-stopping and one-on-one situations. His distribution suits a team that wants to transition quickly from defence to attack.
Benjamin Asare — Hearts of Oak
Experienced domestic goalkeeper who provides depth in the squad. Asare's familiarity with the squad environment and his leadership as a veteran make him a valuable presence even as third or fourth choice.
Joseph Anang — St Patrick's Athletic
Young goalkeeper developing in the League of Ireland. His inclusion is about the future of Ghanaian goalkeeping — at 25 he brings athleticism and the ambition of someone determined to eventually displace Ati-Zigi.
Defenders
Baba Abdul Rahman — PAOK
One of the most experienced players in the squad. The left back has spent years at the top level of European football — Chelsea, Schalke, Reims, Stade de Reims — and brings the defensive intelligence and crossing ability Queiroz will want from his wide defenders.
Gideon Mensah — Auxerre
Left-sided defensive option who has developed quickly in Ligue 2. Mensah's pace and ability to get forward complement his defensive responsibilities and give Queiroz an attacking option from deep on the left flank.
Alidu Seidu — Rennes
One of the most technically complete defenders in the squad. Seidu's performances at Rennes in Ligue 1 have been outstanding — compact defensively, excellent in the air, and capable of playing out from the back in Queiroz's build-up. His understanding of European-level tactical demands gives him an edge over the more domestically-based options.
Jerome Opoku — İstanbul Başakşehir
Powerful, physical centre-back who has developed into one of Ghana's most reliable defensive options. Opoku's experience in European football across multiple leagues gives him a tactical maturity that complements the younger defenders in the squad.
Jonas Adjetey — Wolfsburg
Young right back whose Bundesliga development has been rapid. Adjetey's pace, energy and ability to get beyond the striker on the right flank give Ghana a dynamic option in that position. Queiroz will likely use him as the more attacking of the two full-back options.
Abdul Mumin — Rayo Vallecano
La Liga experience gives Mumin a tactical education that is essential in a squad that will face some of the most organised defences in the tournament. His composure on the ball and ability to read danger before it develops make him a reliable centre-back option.
Kojo Peprah Oppong — Nice
Young centre-back developing at a Ligue 1 club. His physicality and aerial ability give Queiroz a different defensive profile when he wants to defend set pieces more aggressively.
Derrick Luckassen — Pafos
Experienced defensive option who adds depth across the back line. Luckassen's versatility and European experience across the Netherlands and Cyprus make him a reliable squad player.
Marvin Senaya — Auxerre
Young attacking right back with pace and directness. Senaya's development in Ligue 2 has shown the kind of dynamic offensive contribution from wide defensive positions that modern full-backs need to provide.
Midfielders
Thomas Partey — Villarreal
The most important player in this squad. When Thomas Partey is fit and playing at his best, Ghana have a midfield anchor who can compete with the best in the world. His physical presence, reading of the game, and ability to drive forward from deep make him the engine around which Queiroz will build the entire defensive and offensive structure. His fitness — always a concern — is the single biggest variable for Ghana's prospects at this tournament.
Elisha Owusu — Auxerre
Hard-working box-to-box midfielder who covers ground relentlessly and provides the energy that allows Partey to sit deeper. Owusu's pressing intensity and ability to win second balls in midfield duels make him an important component of how Ghana control the game away from possession.
Caleb Yirenkyi — Nordsjælland
Young talent whose development at one of Danish football's most progressive academies has been impressive. Yirenkyi's technical quality and composure on the ball give Queiroz a technically gifted option in midfield when Ghana need to control the tempo.
Kwasi Sibo — Oviedo
Physical and disciplined central midfielder who provides the defensive grunt when Queiroz wants to protect a lead. Sibo's ability to screen the back four and disrupt opponents' passing patterns through aggressive pressing fits the Queiroz defensive philosophy.
Augustine Boakye — Saint-Etienne
One of the more technically creative options in the squad. Boakye's ability to find pockets of space in the half-lines and combine with the forward players gives Queiroz an option for opening up defences when Ghana need to play through a low block.
Forwards
Antoine Semenyo — Manchester City
The most significant story in Ghana's attack. Semenyo was crucial to how Ghana built their attacking structure during qualifying. Now at Manchester City after an outstanding season at Bournemouth, Semenyo brings explosive pace, direct running, and the ability to score important goals from wide positions. His Premier League and Champions League experience is the highest of any Ghana forward at this tournament. If Queiroz can get the best from him, Ghana become a different team going forward.
Iñaki Williams — Athletic Bilbao
The physical centrepiece of Ghana's attack. Williams opted for Ghana over Spain and has become one of the most important players in the squad — his strength, aerial ability, and relentless pressing from the front give Ghana a different dimension. His combination with Semenyo and Fatawu on the flanks is the most dangerous attacking combination Queiroz has available.
Abdul Fatawu — Leicester City
Direct, pacy, and capable of beating defenders in one-on-one situations. Fatawu's wide running gives Ghana width in attack and the threat of switching play quickly from one side to the other when opponents overload centrally.
Kamaldeen Sulemana — Atalanta
One of the most technically gifted players in the squad. Sulemana's dribbling, quick feet, and ability to create chances in tight spaces give Ghana a creative option when the direct running of Semenyo and Fatawu is being tracked. His Atalanta development has refined his decision-making in the final third.
Jordan Ayew — Leicester City
The most experienced forward in the squad with over 100 international caps. Ayew's link-up play, work rate, and big-game experience give Queiroz a composed option at the focal point of the attack when Ghana need someone who can hold the ball and bring others into play.
Ernest Nuamah — Lyon
Young forward developing at Lyon whose pace and directness provide Queiroz with an impact option from the bench. Nuamah's running in behind tired defences in the second half of matches could be significant.
Christopher Bonsu Baah — Al-Qadsiah
Physical forward with Saudi Pro League experience. Baah's directness and willingness to run at defenders give Queiroz a different option when Ghana need to play more directly.
Brandon Thomas-Asante — Coventry City
Championship-level forward who provides depth and a different physical profile. Thomas-Asante's strength and ability to hold the ball make him useful when Ghana need to see out a result.
Prince Kwabena Adu — Viktoria Plzeň
Young forward developing in Czech football. His inclusion is about giving the next generation of Ghanaian attackers tournament experience.
Ghana's Group L Schedule
Ghana play Panama, England and Croatia across Toronto, Foxborough and Philadelphia.
Ghana will face Panama, England and Croatia in that order — June 17 in Toronto, June 23 in Foxborough, and June 27 in Philadelphia.
The Panama opener is the one Ghana must win. Panama are the lowest-ranked team in the group and the only side without major European talent throughout their squad. England in Foxborough is the hardest fixture — Thomas Tuchel's side are one of the tournament's favourites. Croatia in Philadelphia is the match that could decide whether Ghana advance — an ageing but experienced European side whose best days are behind them but who remain capable of managing a game at the highest level.
What Ghana Actually Need to Do
Ghana are set to face Panama, England and Croatia at the tournament. The group is navigable. Two of the three opponents are beatable. The problem is that Queiroz has had six weeks.
The talent in this squad is real. Semenyo at Manchester City. Partey at Villarreal. Williams at Athletic Bilbao. Seidu at Rennes. Sulemana at Atalanta. This is not a squad that should be afraid of anyone in Group L except England.
What was missing under Otto Addo was defensive organisation and consistent results when it mattered. Four consecutive friendly defeats going into the World Cup is not a form guide — friendlies are friendlies — but it was enough to convince the federation that a change was needed.
Whether Queiroz, with his pedigree and his reputation for defensive solidity, can deliver stability in the six weeks he has had is the question that will define Ghana's 2026 campaign.
Ghana reached the 2010 quarter-finals. That is the target. It has been sixteen years. The squad to do it is finally here.
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All 26 players, clubs, positions and the Group L schedule in one clean printable page.
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