In-form defender Baba Rahman will not be returning to the Black Stars for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic, as his name was notably absent from coach Otto Addo’s recently announced squad.

Rahman, who previously withdrew from the national team before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to focus on his club career, played a crucial role in PAOK’s successful Greek Super League campaign, scoring six goals and providing three assists from his defensive position.

Despite his impressive form, Addo did not include the former Chelsea left-back in the squad. Rahman, currently on holiday in Ghana, remains supportive of the team despite his exclusion.

The Black Stars will begin preparations for the upcoming matches on Thursday as they enter camp. Training sessions will be held at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon for six days before the squad travels to Bamako to face Mali on June 6. Four days later, they will play against the Central African Republic.

Ghana aims to recover from recent setbacks, having recorded one win and one loss in their first two World Cup qualifiers. They started with a 1-0 victory over Madagascar in Kumasi but then suffered a 1-0 defeat to Comoros in Moroni.

The Black Stars have struggled in 2024, failing to secure a win with two losses and three draws, including an early elimination in the Africa Cup of Nations group stage and unsuccessful international friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda in Morocco. The team is eager to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming qualifiers.

4o