Unity Cup 2025: Ghana omit Kudus, Partey ahead of Super Eagles showdown

By Monsurah Olatunji

The Ghana Football Association has released its 23-man squad for the upcoming Unity Cup 2025, notably excluding key players Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey ahead of their high-profile clash against Nigeria.

The Black Stars will face the Super Eagles in the tournament’s opening match on May 28 at the GTech Community Stadium in West London.

The Unity Cup is a newly established competition celebrating African and Caribbean football heritage, with the final scheduled for May 31.

The absence of Kudus, one of Ghana’s top attacking talents, and deputy captain Partey has sparked significant debate among fans and pundits. The GFA has not provided official reasons for their omissions.

The selected squad includes 14 players currently competing in European leagues, five from the Ghana Premier League, and others from the United Arab Emirates and MLS Next Pro. The blend reflects a balance of international experience and local talent.

Veteran forward Jordan Ayew is expected to lead the team, while emerging prospects such as Abdul Aziz Issah and Ibrahim Sulemana highlight a generational shift in the squad’s composition.

Ghana was the first team to arrive in London and is aiming to make a strong impression in the inaugural edition of the Unity Cup.

Full Squad List
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Benjamin Asare, Joseph Tetteh Anang
Defenders: Gideon Mensah, Ebenezer Annan, Mohammed Salisu, Stephen Ambrosius, Aaron Essel, Razak Simpson, Mamudu Kamaradini, Caleb Yirenkyi
Midfielders: Majeed Ashimeru, Abdul Salis Samed, Ibrahim Sulemana, Abu Francis, Lawrence Agyekum, Abdul Aziz Issah, Christopher Baah Bonsu
Forwards: Jordan Ayew, Felix Afena-Gyan, Thomas Asante, Kwame Opoku, Mohammed Gadafi Fuseini

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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