Otto Addo unveils expanded Black Stars squad for Austria & Germany clashes

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has announced a 26-man squad featuring four debutants for Ghana’s upcoming international friendlies against Austria and Germany. The matches, scheduled for later this month, serve as crucial preparatory fixtures for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The new faces in the squad include defender Derrick Luckassen, who recently clinched the Cypriot league title with Pafos FC and scored the club’s first-ever Champions League goal. He is joined by Patrick Pfeiffer, a defender currently featuring for German 2. Bundesliga side Darmstadt 98; Marvin Senaya, a Ligue 1 player for AJ Auxerre; and forward Daniel Agyei, who currently plies his trade with Turkish club Kocaelispor.

New Faces and Familiar Returns

The quartet’s inclusion reflects the coach’s ongoing efforts to broaden the team’s talent pool ahead of the global showpiece.

· Derrick Luckassen (Pafos FC): A product of the AZ Alkmaar academy, the centre-back brings a wealth of European experience having previously played for PSV, Hertha BSC, and Anderlecht.
· Marvin Senaya (AJ Auxerre): The right-back has been a consistent performer in France’s top flight, having made his professional debut in 2021 after spells with Strasbourg and Sochaux.
· Daniel Agyei (Kocaelispor): The versatile forward adds depth to the attack. Born in England, he featured for clubs like Burnley and Oxford United before his move to Turkey.
· Patrick Pfeiffer (Darmstadt 98): The defender earns his first call-up following solid performances in the German second division.

In a major boost for the side, the squad also sees the return of key experienced players, including Iñaki Williams, Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku, and Ibrahim Sulemana.

The Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Defenders: Patrick Pfeiffer (SV Darmstadt), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos FC), Derrick Kohn (Union Berlin), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland), Kojo Oppong Pepprah (OGC Nice), Jonas Adjetey (VFL Wolfsburg), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre)

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villareal), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Ibrahim Sulemana (Cagliari), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo)

Forwards: Brandon Thomas Asante (Coventry City), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City), Prince Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Kamal Deen Sulemana (Atalanta), Daniel Agyei (Kocaelispor).

The Road Ahead

The Black Stars will first face Austria in Vienna on March 27, before traveling to Stuttgart to take on Germany on March 30, 2026. These high-profile friendlies are expected to provide the technical team with a clear assessment of the squad’s readiness as the World Cup approaches.