As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers intensifies, Ghanaian players abroad took to the pitch over the weekend, fine-tuning their form before joining Otto Addo’s squad. With Chad and Madagascar on the horizon, Sportsblog247.com tracks the performances of the 23 players invited for the crucial double-header.

The Black Stars will assemble on Monday, March 17, 2025, for a four-day training camp before facing Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21. They will then travel to Morocco to battle Madagascar on Monday, March 24, in a pivotal Group I clash. Ghana currently sits second in the group with nine points, tied with Comoros.

Goalkeepers: A Weekend to Forget

Lawrence Ati-Zigi endured a tough outing as FC St.Gallen suffered a 2-0 defeat to Lausanne in the Swiss Super League. Similarly, Joseph Wollacott had a difficult day between the posts, conceding five goals as Crawley Town fell 5-1 to Huddersfield in League One. Meanwhile, Benjamin Asare stood in goal for Hearts of Oak but couldn’t prevent a 1-0 loss to Dreams FC in the Ghana Premier League.

Defensive Battles and a Screamer from Simpson

Gideon Mensah played 63 minutes in AJ Auxerre’s 1-1 draw against Nice, while Ebenezer Annan had a brief 10-minute appearance in Red Star Belgrade’s 2-1 victory over Sp.Subotica. Mohammed Salisu also made a cameo in AS Monaco’s 2-0 win over Angers.

Jerome Opoku played the full 90 minutes for Istanbul Basaksehir, though they suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Trabzonspor. Alexander Djiku was involved in Fenerbahçe’s 1-1 stalemate with Samsunspor, where Kingsley Schindler also featured. Razak Simpson was the standout performer in defense, scoring a sensational goal in Nations FC’s 2-1 victory over Medeama SC. Kamaradini Mamudu played for Medeama in the same fixture, while Jonas Adjetey remained on the bench for FC Basel in their 2-1 loss to Young Boys.

Midfield Action and Kudus’ Consistency

Thomas Partey played a part in Arsenal’s crucial 1-0 triumph over Chelsea in the English Premier League. Elisha Owusu featured for 76 minutes in Auxerre’s draw with Nice, while Abu Francis was on the bench as Cercle Brugge suffered a 3-0 defeat to Anderlecht. Mohammed Kudus continued his fine form, playing in West Ham’s 1-1 draw against Everton. Meanwhile, Ernest Nuamah contributed 71 minutes in Olympique Lyon’s 4-2 victory over Le Havre.

Forwards: Mixed Fortunes in Front of Goal

Antoine Semenyo featured in AFC Bournemouth’s 2-1 loss to Brentford, while Kamaldeen Sulemana played 83 minutes in Southampton’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Wolves. Jordan Ayew made a brief appearance in Leicester City’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United. In Spain, Inaki Williams helped Athletic Bilbao secure a 1-0 win over Sevilla, while Jerry Afriyie put in a 75-minute shift in CD Lugo’s 2-1 victory over Unionistas. Christopher Bonsu Baah impressed for Genk, playing 81 minutes in their 2-1 win over Royale Union SG.

As the Black Stars gear up for their upcoming matches, these performances will serve as a benchmark for Otto Addo in shaping his final XI. The stakes are high, and Ghana’s quest for World Cup qualification is in full swing.