Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare is the only locally based player named in Carlos Queiroz’s 24-man Black Stars squad for Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Asare retains his place in the national team alongside foreign-based goalkeepers Lawrence Ati-Zigi of St. Gallen and Joseph Anang of St. Patrick’s Athletic.
His inclusion means the Ghana Premier League has just one representative in the squad, despite Asare’s continued rise with both Hearts of Oak and the Black Stars.
The goalkeeper was also the only home-based player in Ghana’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He started two matches at the tournament and kept clean sheets in both, including Ghana’s goalless draw against England.
Asare was subsequently named the Best Local Player in the Black Stars for the 2025/26 season, after helping Hearts of Oak record one of the league’s best defensive records with 12 clean sheets.
His latest call-up comes as Queiroz prepares the Black Stars for a busy international window, with Ghana set to face Côte d’Ivoire on September 24 and The Gambia on September 29 in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The team will then travel to Morocco for an international friendly against the Atlas Lions on October 4.
Asare’s continued presence in the national team also keeps the spotlight on the Ghana Premier League and its ability to produce players capable of competing at the highest level for the Black Stars.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Mavis Fantevi
