Interim Black Stars coach Kim Lars Björkegren has named a 26-man squad for Ghana’s crucial double-header against Somalia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The squad, announced by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), features a combination of experienced internationals, returning players and some fresh faces from the domestic league.

Captain Jordan Ayew, Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus, Daniel Kofi Kyereh and Alidu Seidu are among the notable names returning to the squad ahead of the two encounters.

Jordan Ayew missed Ghana’s previous qualifying matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia after suffering a groin injury but has recovered to rejoin the team.

Kudus also makes his return after missing Ghana’s international assignments in 2026, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, because of injury.

Meanwhile, Kyereh has earned his first Black Stars invitation in four years after an extended absence from the national team due to a serious knee injury that kept him out of action since December 2022.

Björkegren has also rewarded several players for their performances in the Ghana Premier League, with FC Samartex defender Isaac Afful, Asante Kotoko’s Musa Hamzata and Medeama SC duo Etse Dogli and Emmanuel Annor included in the squad.

The inclusion of the domestic-based players offers an opportunity for them to establish themselves in the senior national team as Ghana seeks to revive its qualifying campaign.

Other notable names in the squad include Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Antoine Semenyo, Felix Afena-Gyan and Gideon Mensah.

The Black Stars opened camp in Accra on Sunday, November 8, as preparations intensified for the two matches against Somalia.

Ghana will host the first encounter at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi on Thursday, November 12, before travelling for the return fixture on Monday, November 16. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 15:00 GMT.

The four-time African champions head into the double-header under pressure after losing their opening two Group C matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.

Those defeats have left Ghana without a point, making the two fixtures against Somalia crucial to their hopes of securing qualification for the 2027 tournament.

Björkegren will be hoping the return of key players and the addition of fresh domestic talent can provide the spark needed to get Ghana’s campaign back on track.