Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has explained the reason behind the inclusion of five debutants in the 23-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Unity Cup tournament in London.

The national team head coach announced his squad on Monday, May 26.

However, there have been mixed reactions following the announcement, as some key players, such as West Ham's Mohammed Kudus, among others, have been excluded.

In response, Otto Addo has clarified the inclusion of these new faces. He says this move is to help closely assess these players that have been in focus for the past few months now.

“These two matches are extremely important for the team, just like the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. I believe this is the perfect time to closely observe the players we’ve been monitoring over the last few months,” Otto Addo said.

He stressed that building a strong, cohesive team requires more than just talent—it demands time, opportunity, and the right environment for growth.

“Team building is a process that takes time, and it’s not something that happens overnight. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to give some of our young players a chance to prove themselves.

Our aim is to create competition within the team, which can only be achieved by providing an equal platform for all our talents to showcase their skills,” he added.

Addo also emphasized focusing on team cohesion over individual stars. “We’re looking beyond individuals and focusing on building a strong team. That’s why I’ve decided to give many of these young players a chance to play and prove themselves, with the aim of making them a key part of my team going forward.”

Meanwhile, not only did Otto Addo announce debutants but also welcomed some old faces like Felix Afena-Gyan who's last call up was in 2022, when he featured in a friendly against Nicaragua, as well as Abdul Samed Salis who was last called up in June 2024, before an injury sidelined him.

"The Unity Cup comes at a crucial time for us, and we want to make the most of it. We’re excited to welcome back players who have been absent for months due to various reasons, as well as integrate new players into the team,” he noted.

Five players will make their debut for Ghana: Joseph Tetteh Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic, Ireland), Abdul Aziz Issah (Barcelona B), Aaron Essel (North Texas SC), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjælland, Denmark), and Mohammed Gadafi Fuseini (Union St. Gilloise, Belgium).

Notable absences from the squad include Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ernest Nuamah, and Antoine Semenyo. However, Abdul Salis Samed, Kwame Opoku, and Felix Afena-Gyan have returned.

Ghana will face Nigeria at the Gtech Community Stadium in West London on Wednesday, May 28.

The winner of that encounter will qualify for the final slated for May 31, with a 12:30 GMT kick-off, to take on either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago.

The Unity Cup fixtures serve as a key part of Ghana’s preparations for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars will resume qualifiers in September with games against Chad and Mali before wrapping up with fixtures against Comoros and the Central African Republic in October.