Ghana’s Black Stars have officially begun their camp in London ahead of the Unity Cup semi-final against Nigeria, set for Wednesday, May 28, at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.
The team assembled on Sunday as part of their preparations for the four-nation invitational tournament, which also includes Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. The winner of the West African derby will advance to the final on May 31, while the losing side will compete in the third-place playoff the same day.
Randy Abbey, Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, confirmed the team’s arrival and training plans in an interview with 3Sports.
“We met with the management committee, and the team gathered in London on the 25th,” Abbey said. “They will have three training sessions before the match against Nigeria on the 28th.”
Abbey acknowledged challenges facing the coaching staff due to injuries and club commitments for several Europe-based players.
“Many players are injured,” he explained. “Also, some are involved in European qualifiers, and their clubs are not releasing them, especially since this period is outside the FIFA international window.”
Additionally, players competing in leagues still in progress, particularly those fighting for titles or promotion, may be unavailable for the tournament. Despite these hurdles, the Black Stars have begun integrating home-based talents into the squad.
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare from Hearts of Oak, defender Razak Simpson of Nations FC, and striker Kwame Opoku from Asante Kotoko joined the team in London on Friday night.
Asare, who impressed during Ghana’s consecutive wins in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March, remains a strong candidate for the starting goalkeeper position. Simpson, a key defender for Ghana Premier League leaders Nations FC, and Opoku, a crucial attacker for Asante Kotoko, are expected to bolster the squad despite missing their clubs’ weekend matches.
The Unity Cup serves not only as a celebration of sport but also as a vital preparation platform for the Black Stars ahead of Matchday 7 and 8 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali scheduled for September.
