Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has suffered a significant blow ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has withdrawn from the squad due to injury concerns. Semenyo was part of the original 24-man squad announced by coach Carlos Queiroz for the upcoming matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia, as well as a friendly against Morocco.
The 25-year-old player's withdrawal is the latest disruption to Queiroz's plans before his first competitive matches in charge of the Black Stars. Semenyo joins Mohammed Kudus and Nathaniel Adjei, who have also withdrawn from the squad due to injury concerns. The Ghana Football Association is expected to announce a replacement for Semenyo in the coming days. This development comes after nine players were added to the squad due to fitness concerns surrounding the original selection.
Ghana will continue their preparations at the Accra Sports Stadium before traveling to Côte d'Ivoire for their Group C opener. The Black Stars begin their qualifying campaign away to Ivory Coast at Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on September 24. They will then host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later. The team will round off the international window with a friendly against Morocco at the Grand Stade de Tanger on October 4.
Coach Carlos Queiroz has been forced to reshape his squad due to the spate of withdrawals. The Portuguese coach had announced his first competitive squad for the Black Stars, but the team has been hit by several withdrawals due to injury concerns. The Ghana Football Association has not disclosed the nature of Semenyo's injury, but it is expected that the team will be bolstered by the return of some of their regular players.
The Black Stars are looking to make a strong impression in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The team has been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia, and other teams. Ghana's first match against Ivory Coast will be a crucial test for the team, and coach Queiroz will be hoping that his team can put up a strong performance despite the withdrawals.
The Ghana Football Association has assured fans that a replacement for Semenyo will be announced soon. The team has a busy schedule ahead, with three matches in the space of 10 days. Coach Queiroz will be hoping that his team can navigate the challenges ahead and secure positive results in the AFCON qualifiers.
The withdrawals have presented an opportunity for other players to step up and stake their claim for a spot in the team. Coach Queiroz will be keen to assess the depth of his squad and identify players who can fill the gaps left by the withdrawals. The Black Stars' performance in the AFCON qualifiers will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
Key points
- Antoine Semenyo has withdrawn from Ghana's squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers due to injury concerns.
- The Ghana Football Association is expected to announce a replacement for Semenyo in the coming days.
- Ghana begins their AFCON qualifying campaign away to Ivory Coast on September 24.
