18 Players Arrive in Black Stars Camp Ahead of Japan Friendly on Friday

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Eighteen players have reported to the Black Stars’ camp at the Ana Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nagoya, Japan, as Ghana intensifies preparations for their highly anticipated international friendly against the Samurai Blue on Friday, November 14, 2025.

According to the Ghana Football Association (GFA), sixteen players arrived in Japan on Tuesday, joining home-based duo Kelvin Nkrumah and Prince Owusu, who had travelled from Accra earlier on Sunday. The friendly match, which forms part of the team’s build-up to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, will test Ghana’s readiness against one of Asia’s top footballing nations.

The current list in camp features goalkeepers Joseph Anang and Lawrence Ati-Zigi; defenders Derrick Kohn, Jerome Opoku, Ebenezer Annan, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Caleb Yirenkyi, Alidu Seidu, and Gideon Mensah. Midfielders and forwards include Abu Francis, Kwasi Sibo, Prince Owusu, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Kelvin Nkrumah, and Prince Adu Kwabena.

18 Players Arrive in Black Stars Camp Ahead of Japan Friendly on Friday

The GFA confirmed that Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, who starred in the Super Clash against Asante Kotoko last weekend, will join the team on Wednesday. He will be accompanied by Belgian-based winger Christopher Bonsu Baah, German-born forward Prince Osei Owusu, and centre-back Mohammed Salisu, who is expected to add much-needed defensive experience to the squad.

Coach Otto Addo and his technical team are expected to conduct the team’s first training session later today in Nagoya. The session will focus on tactical drills, defensive coordination, and attacking transitions as Ghana prepares to face a technically disciplined Japanese side known for their fast-paced passing and pressing game.

This friendly is part of Ghana’s participation in the 2025 Kirin Cup, a prestigious invitational tournament hosted by Japan’s Football Association to strengthen football relations and test competitive readiness ahead of major global tournaments.

Speaking ahead of the match, GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum said the game presents a valuable opportunity for fringe players and newcomers to stake a claim for permanent inclusion in the squad. “This friendly will help the technical team assess new players in competitive conditions and blend them with the core group ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign,” he noted.

The Black Stars will face Japan on Friday, November 14, before travelling to face South Korea in Seoul three days later, wrapping up their Asian tour. Both games will serve as crucial warm-up fixtures ahead of Ghana’s World Cup qualifiers scheduled to resume in early 2026.

The Japan-Ghana clash will be held at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, with kick-off slated for 10:20 a.m. GMT (7:20 p.m. local time). The match will be broadcast live on Max TV and StarTimes, with global streaming available via FIFA+ and the official JFA TV YouTube channel.

Japan, ranked 18th in the world by FIFA, will field a strong side led by captain Wataru Endo and Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Ghana, currently ranked 60th, will rely on a mix of emerging domestic talents and European-based professionals seeking to revive the team’s form following a string of inconsistent performances in 2025.

The Black Stars are expected to unveil their final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers later this month.