Otto Addo to Track Rising Talents as World Cup Qualifiers Loom
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has revealed he will closely monitor the progress of Ghana’s emerging talents who impressed during the team’s dominant 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the 2025 Unity Cup third-place playoff.
The resounding victory at the Gtech Community Stadium in London not only restored pride after a narrow loss to Nigeria but also spotlighted several young players pushing for permanent spots in the national team setup ahead of September’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Among the standout performers were Christopher Bonsu-Baah and Caleb Yirenkyi, both of whom earned praise for their energetic displays. Having already caught the eye in the semifinal defeat to Nigeria, the duo continued their strong form against Trinidad and Tobago, further staking a claim for inclusion in future squads.
Mohammed Fuseini and Cercle Brugge midfielder Lawrence Agyekum also netted their first international goals, with Ghana cruising into the break 3-0 up before Agyekum’s second-half strike sealed the emphatic win.
Barcelona B midfielder Abdul Aziz Issah made his senior debut, bringing composure and vision to Ghana’s midfield, while striker Felix Afena-Gyan made his long-awaited return to the national side since last appearing in 2022.
Speaking after the match, Coach Otto Addo expressed satisfaction with the performance and emphasized his intent to continue monitoring the young prospects.
“Surely, we will continue to observe them. We played well in the last World Cup qualifiers, so the others who were not there also did well,” Addo stated.
“This makes my job hard in the end, to decide in September. But we will still observe them — how they perform at their clubs. But yeah, today, like I said, I’m very, very satisfied.”
The Black Stars are now shifting focus to their next challenge: crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Chad and Mali in September. With competition for places heating up, Otto Addo faces a welcome selection dilemma as Ghana looks to build momentum on the road to the global showpiece.
