Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew has heaped praise on the new faces in Ghana’s squad following their impressive showing at this month’s Unity Cup tournament in London.

Ghana, one of four nations invited to the tournament held at the Gtech Community Stadium, had to make do without several key players. Head coach Otto Addo handed debut call-ups to five fresh talents, signaling a new wave of opportunity for the national team.

Although the Black Stars stumbled in their semifinal clash, falling 2-1 to fierce rivals Nigeria, they bounced back emphatically. A dominant 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago secured third place and, more importantly, boosted morale ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Speaking to the Ghana FA media, Ayew — who currently plies his trade with Leicester City — lauded the newcomers for their seamless adaptation.

“The other players couldn’t make it, but in Ghana we have a lot of talent, and the new players showed their quality in the two matches,” Ayew said. “There is always a need for us to try some new players. We trained only twice before the first game, but the boys looked ready, sharp, and confident in the game against Trinidad and Tobago, and that showed in our performance.”

Looking ahead, the skipper emphasized the importance of unity and strength as Ghana prepares for the next stage of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

“Hopefully, we have all the players back in the subsequent games so that we can fight for the points in the World Cup qualifiers,” he added.

Ghana will resume their World Cup qualifying journey in September, traveling to face Chad before hosting Mali in Matchdays 7 and 8. With young stars stepping up and experienced heads returning, the Black Stars aim to build momentum on their road to the global stage.