Desmond Ofei backs players ahead of Black Stars' friendly encounter against Mexico

Black Stars deputy coach Desmond Ofei has expressed strong confidence in Ghana’s squad for the upcoming international friendly against Mexico, describing the group as talented, ambitious, and eager to impress.

The 23-man team, selected by the technical staff led by head coach Carlos Queiroz, will face Mexico on May 22 as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Speaking in an interview with Flashscore, Ofei highlighted the blend of local-based players and emerging talent in the squad.

“For the upcoming game against Mexico, we have selected a very talented and ambitious group of players from our local league, alongside some exciting U23 talents and players who are highly motivated to show their qualities to the nation and to our new head coach, Mr Carlos Queiroz,” he said.

The squad has attracted attention due to the inclusion of six home-based players — Salim Adams, Razak Simpson, Ebenezer Abban, Ebenezer Adade, Solomon Agbasi, and Benjamin Asare, who replaces Dreams FC goalkeeper Gidios Aseako.

Ofei believes the fixture will serve a dual purpose: testing the team against top international opposition while also helping the technical team assess squad depth ahead of future assignments.

The match against Mexico also marks another early test for Queiroz as he continues to shape the Black Stars' setup.

Ghana are expected to travel in the coming days as preparations intensify. After the Mexico clash, the Black Stars will also face Wales on June 2 in their final preparatory fixture.