Arsenal Star Saka Trains Apart as England Finalise Plans for Ghana

June 24, 2026 — Blessing Okafor 3 min read

Bukayo Saka completed a solo training session on Tuesday as England continued their preparations for Wednesday's friendly against Ghana at Wembley. The Arsenal winger worked separately from the main squad, raising questions about his availability for the match.

Saka Follows Individual Programme

England manager Gareth Southgate confirmed Saka was following a personalised training schedule. The 22-year-old sat out Monday's full session but joined teammates for breakfast and team meetings. Medical staff monitored his workload closely throughout the session at St George's Park.

Saka has been a key figure for England since bursting onto the scene at Euro 2020. His direct running and set-piece delivery gave the Three Lions a different dimension in attack. Any prolonged absence would force Southgate to reshuffle his forward line.

Ghana Arrives in High Spirits

The Black Stars touched down in London on Monday evening ahead of their first match against England since 2006. Ghana coach Chris Hughton named a squad mixing experienced Premier League players with emerging talents from the domestic league.

Wednesday's fixture marks Ghana's third friendly in Europe this international window. The team previously drew 2-2 with Nigeria and beat Madagascar 2-0, building match fitness ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Historical Context of England-Ghana Meetings

The two nations have met only twice in official competition, both coming at the 2010 World Cup group stage. England won 1-0 in a rain-soaked match in Rustenburg, with Matthew Upson scoring the decisive header. The game remains memorable for John Mensah's iconic celebration after Ghana's goalless draw with Australia.

Ghana holds a special place in English football folklore through players like Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, and Sulley Muntari. Wednesday's friendly offers both sides a chance to test themselves against different competition.

England's Broader Squad Considerations

Southgate used the March window to experiment with younger players after Euro 2024 qualification was secured. Several uncapped players joined training this week, giving the manager a longer-term view of his options.

The fixture against Ghana serves as preparation for June's European Championship tournament. Southgate faces increasing pressure to deliver silverware after reaching the final in 2021 and losing to France in the quarter-finals last year.

What to Watch at Wembley

Kickoff is scheduled for 20:00 local time on Wednesday. The match will be broadcast live across multiple platforms in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Fans arriving at Wembley can expect enhanced security screening following crowd control incidents at recent international fixtures. Transport for London advised supporters to arrive early due to planned engineering works on several Underground lines.

Ticket Demand Reveals Growing Interest

All 90,000 tickets for Wednesday's match sold out within hours of going on general sale. Secondary market prices have reportedly reached three times face value, reflecting genuine appetite for the fixture.

Ghanaian communities across London organised group travel arrangements, with several coaches departing from Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool. The fixture carries particular resonance for the large Ghanaian diaspora in England.

Looking Ahead to June

After Wednesday's match, England return to action in June with another friendly before the Euro 2024 squad announcement. Southgate must finalise his 23-man roster by the tournament deadline.

Saka's fitness situation will dominate pre-match discussion, but the broader narrative centres on Southgate's tactical evolution. How England line up against Ghana may offer clues about the manager's plans for Germany this summer.