Baba Rahman Returns as Carlos Queiroz Unveils 28-Man Black Stars Squad for Wales Camp
The Ghana national football team has officially begun preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after head coach Carlos Queiroz named a 28-man squad for a training camp in Wales ahead of an international friendly against Wales.
One of the biggest highlights of the squad announcement is the return of experienced left-back Baba Abdul Rahman, popularly known as Baba Rahman, who rejoins the Black Stars setup for the first time since September 2023.
The former Chelsea FC defender earned a recall following an impressive campaign with Greek side PAOK FC, where he made 35 appearances, scoring three goals and providing three assists across all competitions this season.
Also making a return is Ernest Nuamah, who has been sidelined for nearly a year after suffering a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury. The winger, who plays for Olympique Lyonnais, has now fully recovered and is expected to strengthen Ghana’s attack ahead of the Mundial.
The Black Stars opened camp in Cardiff on Monday, May 25, and trained at Dragon Park as preparations intensify for the friendly against Wales scheduled for June 2.
Coach Queiroz’s squad includes five goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards, blending experienced internationals with emerging talents as Ghana fine-tunes preparations for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
However, the squad also features some notable absentees. Injured midfielder Mohammed Kudus and veteran forward Andre Ayew were left out of the provisional list.
The appointment of Queiroz earlier this year marked a major step in Ghana’s World Cup ambitions. The experienced Portuguese tactician has managed at five different FIFA World Cups, including successful spells with Iran and Portugal. He also previously worked as assistant coach at Manchester United FC under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Since taking charge of Ghana in April 2026, Queiroz has reportedly travelled extensively across Europe to monitor Ghanaian players, studying more than 200 matches involving about 55 players ahead of selecting his final World Cup squad.
Ghana has been drawn in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Stars will face Panama, England and Croatia in the group stage.
For Baba Rahman, the latest call-up represents a significant comeback story. The 31-year-old defender was once regarded as one of Ghana’s brightest defensive talents after rising through the ranks from Dreams FC and Asante Kotoko SC before securing a move to Chelsea in 2015. Injuries and inconsistent form affected his progress in recent years, but his resurgence at PAOK appears to have earned him another opportunity with the national team.
Leave a Reply