Otto Addo Hails Ghana Premier League for Producing Top Talent Ahead of Unity Cup
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has lauded the Ghana Premier League (GPL) for its role in developing quality players who can compete at the highest level, as the national team prepares for the 2025 Unity Cup in London.
Speaking in the build-up to Ghana’s semifinal clash with Nigeria on Wednesday, May 28, Addo highlighted the inclusion of four home-based players in his 23-man squad as evidence of the local league’s rising standard and significance to the national team setup.
Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, Nations FC midfielder Razak Simpson, Asante Kotoko forward Kwame Opoku, and Medeama SC defender Kamaradini Mamudu have all been handed call-ups for the four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
“If you’ve watched our recent games, we’ve always had local players in our squad and also playing,” Addo noted. “I rate the league very high, otherwise, we wouldn’t have players in our squad who can compete on that level. I’m looking forward to seeing them on that stage.”
Addo’s remarks reflect a growing trend in the Black Stars’ recent squad selections, where home-based players are increasingly given opportunities to train and play alongside foreign-based stars. The Unity Cup, he explained, offers the perfect stage to assess how well these players adapt to international football.
Ghana will open their campaign against Nigeria at the Gtech Community Stadium in West London. The winner of that fixture will advance to the final on Saturday, May 31, while the loser will contest the third-place playoff on the same day.
