Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has confirmed that Derrick Kohn is still awaiting FIFA clearance to make his debut against Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Kohn was called up as part of the 25-man squad list by Otto Addo ahead of the doubleheader against Chad and Mali.
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Otto confirmed in his pre-game interview that Kohn was still awaiting his FIFA clearance to make his debut, reason he wasn’t selected against Chad
“So, yeah, we had a lot of difficulties in Chad. One was also Derek. We didn’t get the FIFA approval. To that point, we were hoping that we got it, and up to now, we haven’t gotten it. I’m hoping that it will come tomorrow morning. This is the status quo,” Addo told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
The Ghana coach stressed that his selections are driven by quality rather than where players are developed. “In general, we are always open to any kind of players who are of Ghanaian descent. I always say it’s not about local players; it’s not about players from outside, or who are born in the diaspora. It’s about quality, and we are looking for all kinds of players. At the end, I have to choose,” he added.
READ MORE: FIFA WCQ 26: BlackStars fail to win against Chad
Ghana and Mali will go head-to-head in round eight of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification game.
