Black Stars Get Major Boost as Seven Players Return for Somalia AFCON Qualifiers

Ghana's Black Stars have received a significant boost ahead of their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Somalia, with seven players returning to interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren's squad. The recalls broaden the selection pool available to the Swedish-born tactician as he looks to steer Ghana through what are must-win fixtures in the qualification campaign.

A Squad Rebuilding Under New Stewardship

The double-header represents one of the most closely watched sets of fixtures in Björkegren's short tenure as interim coach. Having stepped in during a period of transition for Ghanaian football, the coach has been tasked with steadying the ship and accumulating vital qualifying points. The return of seven players — whether through fitness recovery, the end of suspension periods, or a change in selection policy — gives him considerably more tactical flexibility than he had in recent call-ups.

Squad depth has been a recurring concern for Ghana in recent years, with injuries and availability issues often forcing coaches to field unfamiliar combinations. The influx of returning players should help address some of those concerns, at least in the short term, and could allow Björkegren to field a more settled and experienced line-up across both legs.

Why It Matters for Ghana

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and qualification is far from guaranteed for the four-time African champions. Ghana's recent AFCON record has been a source of frustration for supporters — the Black Stars failed to progress beyond the group stage at the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast, and there is immense pressure on the team to rediscover the form that once made them one of the continent's most feared sides.

Against Somalia, Ghana will be expected to claim maximum points, but the Black Stars have learned — sometimes painfully — that no qualifier should be taken lightly. Somalia's football infrastructure has grown steadily in recent years, and any slip-up could have serious consequences for Ghana's qualification hopes.

For Ghanaian fans, the return of key players is an encouraging sign that the squad is moving towards greater stability. The Ghana Football Association and the technical team will be hoping that this period of consolidation under Björkegren can lay the groundwork for a permanent coaching appointment and a more consistent run of results.

What to Expect From the Double-Header

With two matches to play against Somalia, Ghana have the opportunity to bank six crucial points and improve their standing in the qualifying group. The home fixture, in particular, is expected to draw significant support from Ghanaian fans eager to see a positive response from the national team.

The availability of a larger, healthier squad also reduces the risk of over-relying on individual players — a problem that has at times left Ghana exposed when key men have been unavailable through injury or suspension.

• Björkegren will be counting on the returning players to bring form and fitness from their respective clubs into the international window.
• Ghana need a strong qualifying campaign to restore confidence after recent tournament disappointments.
• The Somalia ties offer a genuine platform for fringe players to stake a claim for regular inclusion.

All eyes will be on how Björkegren deploys his expanded options and whether the Black Stars can deliver the dominant performances that the qualifying campaign demands.