The tournament, scheduled from May 27th to 31st at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in London, pits Ghana against Nigeria, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago in a cultural and competitive showdown.
With gaps left by unavailable stars, Otto Addo needed to dig deep into the talent pool and hand five players their debut call-ups.
Ghana’s head coach emphasised the tournament’s timing as a “crucial opportunity to assess new faces and reintegrate returning players,” particularly given the limited FIFA international windows for friendlies.
Flashscore reviews the performances of these five debutants as they look poised to impress Addo.
Joseph Tetteh Anang (Goalkeeper)
Anang’s journey to the Black Stars senior squad has been a gradual rise. Born in Ghana, he previously represented England at U20 level in 2019.
After youth stints at West Ham United and loan spells at Stevenage and Derby County, Anang secured a starting move to St. Patrick’s Athletic in the Northern Ireland Premier Division.
His consistent performances have made him a standout goalkeeper in the league as his seven clean sheets are the second most in the top flight.
Anang’s ability to organise the defence and his shot-stopping reliability have been key to his club’s solid defensive record, justifying his call-up as a potential understudy or future first choice for Ghana
Aaron Essel (Defender)
A product of the Ghana Premier League and a regular for the Black Satellites (Ghana U20), Essel is a versatile defender known for his physicality and versatility.
His loan move to North Texas SC in the USL Championship has provided valuable first-team experience in a competitive environment.
Despite being loaned out, Essel still had the sixth-most interceptions (12) among U20 players in the Scottish Premiership regular season.
At the international level, the 19-year-old featured in every match for the Ghana U20 team during the recent Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
While he showed promise throughout the tournament, he appeared somewhat unsettled in the quarterfinal against Egypt, unfortunately losing concentration during both goals conceded. There are question marks as to whether he is ready to be promoted to the senior team.
Abdul Aziz Issah (Midfielder)
Issah is a creative attacking midfielder who rose through the ranks of Ghana’s domestic league before securing a loan move to Barcelona Atlètic.
Despite limited game time in Spain’s Segunda B, his performances at youth international level have been decent.
He featured prominently for Ghana’s U20 team at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt and scored one goal in the tournament.
There’s never been doubts about Issah’s talent, but his lack of game time has seen him struggle for rhythm and match fitnes,s which makes his inclusion surprising.
Caleb Yirenkyi (Midfielder)
Yirenkyi has emerged as a key player for FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga in his first professional season.
At just 19 years old, he has broken into the first team and impressed with his all-around midfield capabilities, combining defensive work rate with attacking contributions.
In his 17 league appearances, the central midfielder has scored two goals and provided two assists. But it is his ability to win duels that has caught the eye with a duel success of 91%.
His 18 interceptions is the fourth highest among U20 players in the Danish SuperLiga this season.
Yirenkyi’s consistent form and maturity beyond his years have made him a natural choice for integration into the senior squad.
Mohammed Gadafi Fuseini (Forward)
Fuseini’s rise has been rapid, capping a remarkable season with a first league title in 90 years for Union Saint-Gilloise.
Operating primarily as a second striker or winger, he brings pace, directness, and a goal threat to the Black Stars’ attacking options.
Fuseini stands out as the eighth-highest scorer among U23 players in the Belgian Pro League this season, netting an impressive nine league goals. Renowned for his knack for exploiting space behind defences and delivering decisive final touches, Fuseini’s clinical finishing and versatility make him a dynamic and valuable attacking asset for Ghana.
As Addo noted, “This isn’t just about trophies; it’s about building a team that can withstand the pressures of World Cup football”. The 2025 Unity Cup, therefore, transcends regional bragging rights - it’s a crucible for Ghana’s next generation.
The Black Star Watch is a compelling weekly column written by Owuraku Ampofo, a seasoned sports journalist with over five years of experience reporting on Ghanaian players. This column aims to uncover patterns, address pressing questions, and illuminate trending topics surrounding Ghanaian footballers.
