Black Stars begin Austria friendly preparation with 21 players training in Vienna

The Ghana national football team commenced preparations for their upcoming international friendly against Austria with a focused training session at the Vienna Football Campus on Monday. The one-hour session was designed to balance recovery for players who had competed for their clubs on Sunday, while the rest of the squad participated in tactical drills, ball control exercises, and shooting practice.

A total of twenty-one (21) players took part in Monday’s session, showcasing a blend of experience and emerging talent. Goalkeepers Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Benjamin Asare, and Joseph Anang were involved in targeted goalkeeping drills focusing on reflexes, positioning, and distribution. Defenders such as Patrick Pfeiffer, Derrick Luckassen, Derrick Kohn, and Jerome Opoku worked on defensive coordination, marking, and build-up play from the back.

Midfielders Caleb Yirenkyi, Kojo Oppong Pepprah, Jonas Adjetey, Marvin Senaya, and Gideon Mensah focused on passing accuracy, ball retention, and tactical positioning. Meanwhile, attacking talents Elisha Owusu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Kwasi Sibo, Jordan Ayew, Prince Kwabena Adu, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Antoine Semenyo, Kamal Deen Sulemana, and Daniel Agyei participated in finishing exercises, combination plays, and situational attacking drills to sharpen goal-scoring instincts.

Deputy Captain Thomas Partey has now joined the squad in Vienna, bringing the total number of players in camp to twenty-two. Coaches are closely monitoring his integration, emphasizing leadership in midfield and coordination between defense and attack. Meanwhile, defenders Alexander Djiku and Kojo Oppong Peprah are scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, completing the full squad ahead of the friendly against Austria.

The coaching staff have highlighted the importance of combining recovery and tactical readiness, noting that players returning from club duties require careful management to maintain fitness and avoid injury. Tactical sessions during the day focused on pressing patterns, transitions, set-piece organization, and building fluid attacking movements. Shooting drills emphasized timing, accuracy, and coordination between forwards and midfielders, ensuring that finishing touches are sharpened before match day.

Preparations in Vienna also include video analysis sessions, where players review Austria’s recent performances to understand positional tendencies, strengths, and vulnerabilities. This strategic approach is designed to give the Black Stars a competitive edge in the friendly, while reinforcing the team’s cohesion and adaptability.

With the squad gradually completing, the Black Stars are expected to hold additional training sessions in the coming days, combining high-intensity drills with recovery work. The coaching team has stressed the need for discipline, teamwork, and match-readiness as Ghana aims to test tactical variations and player combinations ahead of future international fixtures.

The friendly against Austria represents an important opportunity for the Black Stars to assess emerging talents, refine tactical plans, and build momentum in a competitive European environment. Fans and football analysts alike are eagerly watching training updates, keen to see which players will make an impact during the match and how the squad will gel under coach-led strategies.