Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has been dealt a fresh blow ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Defender Nathaniel Adjei, who had just been recalled to the squad after over a year out, has been forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury sustained during his club's Ligue 1 match against Le Mans on September 19, 2026. Adjei started the match but was substituted after 75 minutes.
The injury is a significant setback for Adjei, whose international career has been plagued by fitness issues. He made his Black Stars debut in November 2024 against Niger but lasted only 39 minutes before limping off with an ankle injury that required surgery. After a lengthy recovery, Adjei regained form with his club, Lorient, earning a recall to the Black Stars squad for the September-October window, only to be sidelined again by injury.
Adjei's withdrawal is the latest in a series of disruptions to the Black Stars' squad planning. Earlier, Mohammed Kudus pulled out of the squad for precautionary reasons, while Derby County forward Mohammed Fuseini was called up to replace him. Additionally, Prince Adu Kwabena's participation was left in doubt due to a head injury, and Thomas-Asante was recalled to strengthen the team's forward options.
The injuries have left coach Carlos Queiroz with a growing list of selection headaches. Ghana is scheduled to face Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24, 2026, and host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29. A friendly against Morocco in Rabat follows on October 4. The accumulating injuries and late changes have underlined the thin margins of the squad heading into the opening rounds of qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to Lorient's medical staff, Adjei will need between two and three weeks to recover from his hamstring injury. This timeline leaves his participation in Ghana's qualifying campaign in serious doubt. The Black Stars' results in Bouaké and Accra will shape their qualifying group standing early, and Queiroz will have to rework his defensive and attacking options with a reshaped squad.
The setback is especially bitter for Adjei, who had worked his way back into form for Lorient and earned a recall to the Black Stars squad. His international career has been marked by a cruel pattern of injuries, and it remains unclear whether he will be considered for later qualifiers depending on his recovery. No further timeline has been given for Adjei's return beyond the initial estimate.
The Black Stars' coaching staff and fans will be eagerly monitoring Adjei's progress and hoping for a speedy recovery. The team's performance in the qualifiers will be crucial in determining their chances of reaching the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. With a reshaped squad and multiple injuries, Queiroz will have to make strategic decisions to ensure the team's success in the upcoming matches.
Key points
- Nathaniel Adjei's hamstring injury has forced him to withdraw from Ghana's AFCON 2027 qualifying squad.
- The injury is a significant setback for Adjei, whose international career has been plagued by fitness issues.
- The Black Stars face a challenging schedule, with matches against Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, and Morocco in the coming weeks.
