Five GPL Stars Earn Black Stars Call-Up as Ghana Target Strong Start to AFCON 2027 Qualifying Campaign

Interim Black Stars head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has named five Ghana Premier League players in a 26-man squad for Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying double-header against Somalia. The selection signals a conscious effort to cast the net wider across local football, giving domestically-based players a platform to stake their claims at the highest level of Ghanaian football.

Local Talent Gets Its Moment

The inclusion of five GPL players in the squad is a notable development for Ghanaian domestic football, a league that critics have long argued deserves greater recognition when national team squads are assembled. For years, there has been vocal frustration from fans, club administrators and players themselves that the Premier League's best talents are routinely overlooked in favour of foreign-based players — some of whom are out of form or carrying injuries at their clubs.

By handing these five local stars a place in the 26-man group, Björkegren — who took charge of the Black Stars on an interim basis — is sending a clear message that consistent performance in the GPL can open the door to international football. It is a move likely to be welcomed by Ghana Football Association stakeholders who have been pushing for a stronger bridge between the domestic league and the senior national team.

Why It Matters for Ghana

The AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign carries significant weight for Ghana. The Black Stars have endured a turbulent few years, including a painful group-stage exit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, which led to a broader review of the national team's structure and coaching setup. Rebuilding trust with Ghanaian supporters — and restoring the country's standing as one of Africa's elite football nations — is now a priority.

Somalia, while not among the continent's strongest sides, cannot be taken lightly. Any slip in the qualifying rounds could prove costly, and Ghana will be expected to collect maximum points from both legs of this double-header. A strong, professional performance against Somalia would lay a solid foundation for the rest of the qualifying group.

Beyond the results themselves, these matches offer Björkegren a valuable opportunity to assess the depth of his squad, experiment with combinations, and identify players who can grow into key roles as Ghana builds toward AFCON 2027. The tournament is set to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and Ghana will be determined to be there.

What to Watch

The five GPL players named in the squad will be under intense scrutiny — both from the coaching staff and from fans watching closely to see whether homegrown talent can truly compete at this level. For the players themselves, pulling on the Black Stars shirt, regardless of the opponent, represents the pinnacle of their careers so far and a chance to cement their place in future squads.

Ghanaian football lovers will be hoping the double-header against Somalia produces not only wins but also the kind of promising individual performances that give the national team genuine options heading into a crucial qualifying campaign. With AFCON 2027 still some time away, now is exactly the right moment to build, experiment and grow.