Barça Atlètic duo eye Ghana call-up for Mexico friendly

Two rising talents from Barça Atlètic, David Oduro and Abdul Aziz Issah, could be included in Ghana squad for an upcoming international friendly against Mexico, according to Spanish newspaper, SPORT.

The match, scheduled for 22 May, is expected to serve as Ghana’s first preparatory fixture ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026. It comes shortly after the unveiling of Carlos Queiroz as the new head coach of the Black Stars, marking the beginning of a new phase for the national team.

However, the inclusion of both players could depend on Barça Atlètic’s competitive schedule. If the Spanish side qualifies for the promotion play-offs, the club may request that the players remain in Spain, potentially delaying their international involvement.

Issah, who has been in strong form this season, has already made his senior debut for Ghana, featuring for 30 minutes in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in 2025. The young forward has experienced a resurgence in recent months, scoring four goals and establishing himself as a regular starter under coach Julian Belletti.

Oduro, meanwhile, is yet to make his debut for the national team and could earn his first call-up if selected. The defender is nearing full fitness after recovering from injury and has recently been involved more consistently at club level.

The potential inclusion of the two players reflects Ghana’s willingness to integrate emerging talent into the senior squad as preparations for the World Cup gather momentum. With a new coach in place, opportunities may arise for younger players to stake a claim for a place in the team.

Ghana have been drawn in Group L for the tournament, where they will face England, Croatia, and Panama. The friendly against Mexico is expected to provide an early test as the team begins to build towards the competition.

As the May fixture approaches, attention will focus on squad selection and whether Oduro and Issah will be given the opportunity to feature, with both players seen as part of the next generation of Ghanaian talent.

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Daraja Kapoor
Daraja Kapoor is a highly respected football journalist, editor and analyst, known for his compelling storytelling and sharp, data-driven insights into the game. He specialises in match analysis, features, emerging talent coverage and football trends across Africa.He holds a degree in English from the University of Cape Coast and has built a strong reputation in the media industry through his disciplined approach and deep understanding of football.Daraja received his journalistic training at leading news platform Ghanaguardian.com and has worked with some of the most prominent football websites in Ghana, including Footballmadeinghana.com and Ghanasoccernet.com. He also served as Sports Editor of Talysports.com, where he played a key role in shaping editorial direction and content strategy.He is currently the Managing Editor of African.Football, where he leads the platform’s editorial vision, overseeing content production, quality control and the delivery of authoritative African football coverage to a global audience.

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