The goalkeepers will surely take a cut – Sports Minister on Black Stars squad
Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are on track, according to Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams, who says the Black Stars are fully prepared for the tournament despite an imminent reduction in the team’s provisional squad.
Speaking ahead of the announcement of Ghana’s final World Cup squad, Mr Adams revealed that two players are expected to be dropped from the current 28-man list submitted by head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The minister indicated that the likely cuts will come from the goalkeeping department, where five players are currently competing for places in the final squad.
“We are ready on all fronts for the World Cup,” Mr Adams told TV3.
“The coach will have to drop two players from the 28 preliminary players he has called up.
“The cut of the Black Stars squad from 28 to 26 is likely to come from the goalkeeping unit. They will surely take a cut.”
Queiroz’s provisional squad includes goalkeepers Benjamin Asare, Solomon Agbasi, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Annag and Paul Reverson, with only three expected to make the final 26-man list.
The Black Stars are currently fine-tuning preparations ahead of the tournament, with the final squad set to be unveiled on Monday, 1 June.
Ghana will then face Wales in an international friendly at Cardiff City Stadium on 2 June before taking on Jamaica on 10 June in their final warm-up fixture before the World Cup begins.
The tournament, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will mark Ghana’s fifth appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Drawn in Group L, the Black Stars face a challenging route to the knockout stages alongside England, Croatia and Panama.
Ghana open their campaign against Panama on 17 June at BMO Field before meeting England in a highly anticipated clash on 23 June at Gillette Stadium. Their group-stage journey concludes against Croatia on 27 June.
The Black Stars will be aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since their historic run to the quarter-finals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, a campaign that remains one of the finest achievements in the nation’s football history.
With the final squad announcement imminent, competition for places remains intense as players seek to secure a spot on the plane to North America.
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