The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reiterated its commitment to building a formidable Black Stars squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Communications Director Henry Asante Twum.

As part of preparations for the Mundial this summer, head coach Otto Addo has named a 26-man squad for upcoming friendly matches against Austria and Germany.

The squad features four debutants: Derrick Luckassen, Marvin Senaya, Daniel Agyei, and Patrick Pfeiffer, signaling GFA’s focus on blending youth with experience.

Speaking to Asempa FM, Asante Twum explained the rationale behind the inclusion of new players.

“We want to build a strong team. We want to get to a point where we are without our senior players, and we will be able to play comfortably. We have spoken to several players, and we are glad to have them, but they will have to compete for a place on the team. We want to create a competitive environment, and we want every player to bring competition to the team, and those who are around must also improve themselves, because it will also help to create a competitive side,” he said.

The Black Stars will face Austria in Vienna on March 27, before traveling to play Germany on March 30, 2026. These friendlies serve as crucial test matches to fine-tune the squad ahead of the World Cup.