Ghana's preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have been hit by a growing list of player absences, with captain Jordan Ayew reportedly set to miss the Black Stars' opening matches. Ayew arrived in Accra on Monday as the team opened camp, but discomfort prompted further medical checks. A scan conducted on Tuesday confirmed an injury that is expected to rule the Sheffield United forward out of the opening qualifiers.
The development comes at an unfortunate time for new Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz, who is beginning another competitive cycle with Ghana. The team will travel to Bouaké to face Côte d'Ivoire on September 24 before returning home to play The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29. This will be a challenging start for Ghana, with the team seeking to put the disappointment of missing the previous AFCON tournament behind them.
Ayew's reported absence adds to a difficult injury and availability situation surrounding the squad. Mohammed Kudus has already withdrawn after deciding to continue his recovery and regain full fitness with Tottenham Hotspur following a lengthy injury lay-off. The Ghana Football Association has also announced additional squad changes following medical uncertainties, calling up players including Alidu Seidu, Jonas Adjetey, Ebenezer Annan, Rockson Yeboah, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh, and Felix Afena-Gyan.
Other reported absentees include Antoine Semenyo, Baba Rahman, Alidu Seidu, Prince Adu Kwabena, and Nathaniel Adjei, further reducing the number of established options available to Queiroz. A demanding start for Ghana, the team faces one of the most demanding fixtures in Group C, an away meeting with Côte d'Ivoire, followed by a match against The Gambia in Accra.
Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, and Somalia make up Group C, with the top two teams advancing to the 2027 tournament under the qualification format. Ghana will therefore have little room for complacency, particularly with the team seeking to put the disappointment of missing the previous AFCON tournament behind them.
For Queiroz, the challenge now is to reorganise his plans and make the most of the players available. The coach has already shown a willingness to introduce new faces, while several returning players were initially expected to strengthen the squad. The absence of key figures such as Kudus and Ayew means greater responsibility will fall on the remaining attackers and midfielders to provide creativity, goals, and leadership.
The opening double-header against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia could provide an early indication of how Queiroz's new-look Black Stars will respond to adversity. With the road to AFCON 2027 beginning this week, Ghana's squad has been forced to adapt before even kicking a ball. The Black Stars will now have to rely on squad depth, tactical discipline, and the emerging talents brought into the group.
Key points
- Jordan Ayew will miss Ghana's opening 2027 AFCON qualifiers due to an injury.
- Ghana's preparations have been hit by a growing list of player absences, including Mohammed Kudus and other key players.
- The Black Stars face a demanding start in Group C, with matches against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
