Afena-Gyan is among the six players who return to the team
While Ghana’s Unity Cup squad features several debutants and home-based talents, head coach Otto Addo has also welcomed back a handful of familiar names, players who have been absent from the national setup due to form, injury, or competition for places.
These returnees bring experience, hunger, and a point to prove as Ghana prepares to face Nigeria in London on May 28, 2025.
Salis Abdul Samed – Sunderland (England)
After a frustrating injury layoff, Salis Abdul Samed makes his return to the Black Stars for the first time since June 10, 2024.
The defensive midfielder secured a loan move from RC Lens to Sunderland, where he featured in 10 Championship matches, regaining fitness and form.
Still only 25, Salis’ ball-winning ability and composure in midfield will be key assets for Otto Addo in London.
Felix Afena-Gyan – Juventus Next Gen (Italy)
Once the face of Ghana’s youth revolution under Otto Addo, Felix Afena-Gyan returns to the national team for the first time in nearly three years.
Now 22, the pacey forward plays for Juventus Next Gen in Serie C, where he’s scored 6 goals in 28 matches this season.
Afena-Gyan made his debut at just 19 years old in the high-stakes World Cup playoff against Nigeria in March 2022, and has since registered 1 goal and 1 assist in 7 caps.
His last appearance came in September 2022 against Nicaragua.
Majeed Ashimeru – Anderlecht (Belgium)
Majeed Ashimeru has battled injury setbacks in recent seasons but returns to the fold after a modest campaign with Anderlecht, where he played 19 times this season, scoring once and assisting once.
The midfielder, who made his national team debut back in May 2017, has 9 caps, with his last coming in September 2024 during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Niger in the AFCON qualifiers.
If fully fit, Ashimeru’s box-to-box energy could prove useful in midfield.
Stephan Ambrosius – St. Gallen (Switzerland)
The versatile defender returns to the national side after last featuring in October 2023, when Ghana lost 2-0 to Mexico.
Stephan Ambrosius, 25, made his debut in a friendly against Liberia in September 2023, and has 2 caps. He’s played 22 matches for St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League this season and offers depth across the backline.
Brandon Thomas-Asante – Coventry City (England)
Despite being named in past squads, Brandon Thomas-Asante hasn’t featured for the Black Stars since September 2024, when he played in the 1-1 draw against Niger.
The forward made his debut just months earlier, in June 2024, playing one minute in a win over the Central African Republic.
With 38 appearances, 4 goals, and 3 assists for Coventry City this season, the 25-year-old has been a regular at club level, helping his side to the Championship play-off semifinals, where they fell to Sunderland.
Kwame Opoku – Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
Kwame Opoku returns to the national team after nearly four years away.
Since his second spell with Asante Kotoko, he’s been in top form, scoring 9 goals in 16 Ghana Premier League matches and helping the club reach the FA Cup final, with 1 goal in 2 cup appearances.
His goal-scoring run has been instrumental in Kotoko’s late-season surge.
The striker made his Black Stars debut in March 2021 against South Africa and played 3 times for Ghana.
His last appearance came in a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in September 2021. Now 25, Opoku is chasing a long-awaited comeback and a chance to cement a place in Otto Addo’s plans.
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