Otto Addo Sees 2025 Unity Cup as Key Evaluation Platform for Black Stars Prospects
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has described the 2025 Unity Cup as a vital opportunity to assess players and build depth in the national team ahead of upcoming competitions.
Ghana’s senior national team is currently in London preparing for the return of the Unity Cup, a four-nation tournament featuring Nigeria, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Coach Addo announced a 23-man squad on Monday, May 26, made up largely of young talents and players seeking to solidify their place in the team.
Notably absent from the squad are Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, and Antoine Semenyo, some of Ghana’s top stars. In their place, five debutants have been given the nod alongside a few returning players.
Speaking to ghanafa.org, Otto Addo explained his rationale behind the squad selection and emphasised the importance of using the tournament to evaluate emerging players.
“These two matches are extremely important for the team, just like the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. I believe this is the perfect time to closely observe the players we’ve been monitoring over the last few months,” he said.
Addo stressed the long-term vision of the technical team, stating that team development requires patience and deliberate opportunities for players to showcase their abilities.
“Team building is a process that takes time, and it’s not something that happens overnight. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to give some of our young players a chance to prove themselves. Our aim is to create competition within the team, which can only be achieved by providing an equal platform for all our talents to showcase their skills,” he explained.
The former Borussia Dortmund coach added that the focus is not solely on individuals but on creating a strong collective unit for the future.
“We’re looking beyond individuals, and focusing on building a strong team, that’s why I’ve decided to give many of these young players a chance to play and prove themselves, with the aim of making them a key part of my team going forward.”
The Unity Cup comes at a crucial time for us, and we want to make the most of it. We’re excited to welcome back players who have been absent for months due to various reasons, as well as integrate new players into the team.”
Ghana will open their Unity Cup campaign with a clash against Nigeria on Wednesday, May 28, at the GTech Community Stadium in West London. The winner of the tie will advance to the final on Saturday, May 31, while the losing side will contest the third-place playoff.
