Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has praised the Ghana Premier League (GPL) for its consistent role in producing high-quality players who can thrive at the international level, as Ghana readies for the 2025 Unity Cup in London.
Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated semifinal against Nigeria on Wednesday, May 28, Addo pointed to the selection of four home-based players in his squad as a testament to the growing standard of the local league.
Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare, Nations FC midfielder Razak Simpson, Asante Kotoko striker Kwame Opoku, and Medeama SC defender Kamaradini Mamudu have all earned spots in the 23-man squad for the four-nation tournament, which also includes Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
“If you’ve watched our recent games, we’ve always had local players in our squad and also playing,” Addo told the media. “I rate the league very high, otherwise, we wouldn’t have players in our squad who can compete on that level. I’m looking forward to seeing them on that stage.”
Addo’s recent squad selections reflect a shift toward integrating homegrown talents into the senior national team. According to the coach, the Unity Cup presents the ideal platform to evaluate how these players perform in a competitive international environment.
Ghana will face Nigeria in the tournament’s opening semifinal at the Gtech Community Stadium in West London. The winner will progress to the final on Saturday, May 31, to face either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago, while the losing side will contest the third-place playoff later that same day.
