Black Stars Shining in the Champions League: Ghanaian Players' Performances in 2025/26 and How They Can Improve

October 1, 2025Hey, football fans! The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is in full swing, and Ghanaian players are out there making us proud on Europe's biggest stage. Seven of our Black Stars are representing top clubs across La Liga, the Premier League, and Serie A. After Matchdays 1 and 2, we’ve seen flashes of brilliance, some frustrating moments, and plenty of potential. Let’s break down how our boys are doing, check out their key stats, and share some practical ideas on how they can step up their game for their clubs and the national team. All stats come from UEFA’s official records and match reports up to September 30. Ready? Let’s dive in!

The Fab Five: How Our Stars Are Performing

Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur)

Our 25-year-old star is turning heads at Tottenham. In Matchday 1’s 1-0 win over Villarreal, Kudus came off the bench and ran the show, completing 91.5% of his passes over 120 minutes across two games. He’s been a dribbling machine, nailing five out of nine dribble attempts. No goals or assists yet, but his vision and pace are lighting up Spurs’ attack. Fans are buzzing about his “masterclass” vibe, and he’s proving he’s a key piece in Ange Postecoglou’s system.

Rating: 8/10If he starts finishing those chances, Spurs could go far.

Thomas Partey (Villarreal CF)

At 32, Partey’s still got it. Joining Villarreal in La Liga, he subbed on at halftime in their 0-1 loss to Tottenham on MD1 and brought some serious steel to the midfield. He hit 84% pass accuracy, had 44 touches, and earned a Sofascore rating of 7.0 despite the defeat. His top speed of 30.78 km/h shows he’s not slowing down. In just 12 minutes of action, he’s already stabilizing Villarreal’s engine room.

Rating: 7.5/10A quiet start, but his experience will shine in bigger matches.

Iñaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)

The 31-year-old forward faced a tough Arsenal side in Bilbao’s 0-2 home loss on MD1. Williams got their first shot on target just before the hour, testing David Raya and showing his relentless work rate. He said post-match the score didn’t tell the full story, and he’s right, Bilbao had possession but couldn’t finish. No goals yet, but his pressing and link-up play keep him as Bilbao’s heart and soul.

Rating: 6.5/10Unlucky, but his stamina (often running 11+ km per game) is unreal.

Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta BC)

The 23-year-old winger is finding his groove at Atalanta after a rough patch at Southampton. His CL stats are light after MD1’s draw against Slavia Praha, but his recent Serie A stunner against Juventus showed off his crazy speed and finishing. He’s racking up high dribble success rates, but Atalanta’s tactical setup under Ivan Jurić needs him to deliver more goals or assists. Keep an eye on him, he’s about to explode.

Rating: 7/10He’s building momentum and could tear defenses apart soon.

Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco)

Salisu, the 26-year-old center-back, was a beast in Monaco’s 2-1 upset over Barcelona in MD1. He led with 70 touches, eight completed long passes, seven duels won, four clearances, and two interceptions, basically shutting down Lewandowski. Match reports called him “instrumental” for that gritty win. A slight injury worry hangs around, but when he’s on, he’s a set-piece threat too.

Rating: 8.5/10Man-of-the-Match stuff, pure quality.

(Quick shoutout: Youngsters like Emmanuel Addai at Feyenoord and Mohammed Gadafi Fuseini at Red Star Belgrade warmed the bench in MD1, but they could break through as rotations happen.)

The Big Picture: How’s It Going?

Two matchdays in, our Black Stars have one win (Salisu’s Monaco), one draw (Sulemana’s Atalanta), and three losses, a 40% positive return in a tough 36-team league phase. No goals from Ghanaians yet, but Salisu and Partey are rock-solid defensively, while Kudus and Sulemana are sparking attacks. Facing giants like Arsenal, Tottenham, and Barcelona is no joke, but these guys are holding their own. Compared to last season’s zero Ghanaian goals in the UCL, this is a step up.

Player	Club	MD1 Result	Key Stat	Goals/Assists
M. Kudus	Tottenham	W 1-0	5/9 Dribbles	0/0
T. Partey	Villarreal	L 0-1	84% Passes	0/0
I. Williams	Athletic Bilbao	L 0-2	1 Shot on Target	0/0
K. Sulemana	Atalanta	D 1-1	High Pace Rating	0/0
M. Salisu	Monaco	W 2-1	7 Duels Won	0/0

Five Ways They Can Level Up

Our boys have the talent, but the Champions League is brutal. Here’s how they (and the Black Stars setup) can take it to the next level:

1. Get Clinical Up Top: Kudus and Williams are creating chances but only converting at 10-15%. They should hit the training ground for one-on-one finishing drills with keepers, focusing on quick shots. For national team camps, pairing them with a finisher like Jordan Ayew could build better chemistry.

2. Own the Midfield Tempo: Partey’s passing is sharp, but Villarreal’s loss showed they need faster transitions. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) to keep 85%+ pass accuracy under pressure would help. The Black Stars coach should drill “quick-release” passes to match UCL speed.

3. Win the Air: Salisu dominates headers, but Williams and Sulemana lose 40% of theirs. Core and neck strength workouts, plus smarter set-piece positioning, could make them (and Ghana) deadlier from corners, a Champions League must.

4. Stay Fit and Fresh: Salisu’s minor injury and Sulemana’s past knocks are red flags. Clubs should use GPS tracking to keep sprint loads under 60km/week and add yoga for flexibility. The GFA needs to enforce recovery plans for national team players.

5. Build Mental Toughness: Losses to Arsenal and Spurs hurt, but bouncing back is everything. Pre-match visualization sessions, watching clips of past Ghanaian wins (like AFCON glory days), could fire them up. Bringing in legends like Asamoah Gyan for camp talks could spark that never-give-up spirit.

What’s Next?

With eight more league-phase games before the playoffs, our Black Stars have time to make waves. Picture Kudus bending one past Neuer or Salisu stonewalling Haaland, it’s not a dream, it’s doable. Their club form could light a fire under the national team after recent AFCON disappointment. Maybe a deep UCL run inspires the next kid from Accra to lace up their boots.

What do you reckon, is Kudus Ballon d’Or material? Drop your thoughts below. Let’s keep cheering our boys on, from Accra to Amsterdam!

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