Brazil-based forward Francis Amuzu earns maiden Black Stars call-up for Mexico friendly

Gremio winger Francis Amuzu has received his maiden call-up to the Black Stars squad for the upcoming international friendly against Mexico later this month.

The 26-year-old has been included in coach Carlos Queiroz’s first squad since taking charge of Ghana, with the Portuguese trainer naming a mix of experienced players, emerging talents and several faces returning to the national team setup.

Amuzu’s inclusion marks a major step in his long journey towards representing Ghana at senior level after years of uncertainty over his international future.

Born in Ghana before relocating to Belgium at a young age, the attacker represented Belgium at U19 and U21 levels and was once considered part of the country’s future senior national team plans.

In 2022, Amuzu turned down an opportunity to play for Ghana, insisting at the time that his heart was with Belgium.

However, his stance began to change in early 2023 when reports in Ghana indicated he had written to FIFA to begin the process of switching nationality to represent the Black Stars.

Between 2023 and 2024, the former Anderlecht winger confirmed in interviews that he had secured a Ghanaian passport and had started the nationality switch process in honour of his father, who previously played for Hearts of Oak.

While playing for Brazilian side Gremio in October 2025, Amuzu publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Ghana ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting his decision was not driven by convenience but by a genuine long-term desire to represent the country.

Despite his declaration, there had been no public confirmation from FIFA regarding the approval of his nationality switch as of late 2025.

His latest inclusion in the Black Stars squad now appears to signal the completion of that process, paving the way for a possible debut against Mexico.

Ghana will travel to Mexico for the international friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026.