Otto Addo’s squad list for the 2025 Unity Cup is an interesting one.

In keeping with the thought-provoking nature of call-ups, this did not disappoint.

From big-name absentees and strange omissions, to the surprise additions, it had everything.

Big name absentees

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, A.F.C Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and West Ham star Mohammed Kudus were conspicuously missing from the list of players invited for the tournament.

If you believe the Ghana Football Association, Thomas Partey is being rested while Inaki, Semenyo, and Kudus are all injured.

Considering that Partey’s club will not participate in the Club World Cup or any match around the time of the tournament, it is strange to see the Arsenal player sit this one out.

Partey’s Arsenal will not play any match until the final week of July, when they face A.C. Milan on July 23 in Singapore, in an international friendly.

Too tired to play: Thomas Partey misses out of the Unity Cup to rest

So what exactly is he being rested for?

Ordinarily, such a tournament would have been the perfect opportunity to experiment with new ideas and players.

However, given the disastrous results of the past year, this has assumed a whole new level of importance.

It is an opportunity to build on the gains from victories against Madagascar and Chad. The nature of the wins and the contributions of Ghana’s biggest names; Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, and Inaki Williams, seemed seminal.

For a team that has been in transition for all of eternity, priority should be given to building cohesiveness, not experimenting.

Strange ommissions

If there is one name that many expected to see, it is Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer.

In a year when Ghana’s forwards have typically struggled for goal involvement, Königsdörfferhas stood out like a beacon.

Königsdörffer has been in fine form, helping Hamburger to secure Bundesliga promotion

His 14 goals and three assists in 32 appearances are only matched by Antoine Semenyo’s 11 goals and five assists.

Königsdörffer’s goals have not been in dead rubber games either.

Two weeks ago, he scored a brace as HSV Hamburger thrashed Ulm 6-1 to secure qualification to the German Bundesliga.

Yet, even without Kudus, Semenyo, and Inaki Williams, the forward was still deemed sub-standard.

So who got the nod?

Surprise additions

Abdul Azziz Issah’s loan spell at Barca has been more of a cultural re-education than actual, game-time-driven growth.

While that education is necessary - 26 minutes in total, it is not good enough to merit a call up into Ghana’s national team, even if things are not great.

His performances in the Black Satellites team were nothing to write home about either.

He is not alone.

Afena Gyan in action in the Serie C

Afena Gyan has also made the squad on the back of an incredibly modest season.

The 22-year-old has played in 26 matches for Juventus U23, scoring 6 goals (including penalties).

He has also made appearances in the Serie C - Girone C; with 333 minutes played in 17 matches. 

In all, he has a combined 360 minutes if you add his involvement in the Serie C Playoffs (157 minutes played.)

Those numbers cannot be the basis for Gyan’s invitation.

This seems more of an attempt to placate the young man for Otto Addo’s decision not to select him for the last World Cup.

Another player whose addition further deepens the feeling of this being a rehabilitation camp for battered reputations is Salis Abdul Samed.

The midfielder came off the bench against Oxford on 26th April in the 27th minute.

Five days prior, he made the last of his three starts for Sunderland against Blackburn Rovers. He lasted 65 minutes.

In all, Salis has managed just eleven appearances all season.

Yet, he still makes the squad.

All of that is water under the bridge now.

What matters is for the selected to show up and earn their place in the team.