Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has suffered a significant blow ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Antoine Semenyo, a key player, has withdrawn from the squad due to a swollen ankle injury. This development was confirmed by 3Sports, a local sports media outlet. Semenyo's absence will be deeply felt by the team, especially given his recent impressive performance for Manchester City.
Semenyo's withdrawal comes at a critical time, just days after he scored twice and provided an assist in Manchester City's 5-3 Premier League win over Sunderland. His injury is a setback for Carlos Queiroz, the team's coach, who is preparing for his first competitive assignments with the Black Stars. The team is set to face Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia in the qualifiers.
Mohammed Kudus, another key player, has also opted out of the squad due to his ongoing recovery from a seven-month injury lay-off. Kudus, who plays for Tottenham, had only recently returned to competitive football and came off the bench to provide an assist in Tottenham's 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa. Queiroz explained that the decision to exclude Kudus was made to protect his progress and ensure he regains full fitness.
In response to the injuries and availability issues affecting several players, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has expanded the squad. Nine new players have been added to the team, including defenders Jonas Adjetey, Alidu Seidu, Ebenezer Annan, and Rockson Yeboah, midfielder Rahim Ibrahim, and forwards Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh, and Felix Afena-Gyan.
The Black Stars squad opened camp in Accra on September 21, ahead of their crucial qualifiers. The team will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24. They will then return home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29, before traveling to Morocco for a friendly against the Atlas Lions on October 4.
The GFA's decision to expand the squad is aimed at addressing the medical uncertainties presented by some players. This move is expected to provide Queiroz with more options as he prepares the team for the upcoming matches. The team's performance in the qualifiers will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the 2027 AFCON.
The Black Stars' coaching staff and players will need to work together to overcome the challenges posed by these withdrawals. The team's ability to adapt to the absence of key players like Semenyo and Kudus will be crucial in determining their success in the qualifiers. The team's fans will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of these matches.
Key points
- Antoine Semenyo has withdrawn from Ghana's squad due to a swollen ankle injury.
- Mohammed Kudus has also opted out of the squad due to his ongoing recovery from a seven-month injury lay-off.
- The GFA has added nine new players to the squad in response to injuries and availability issues.
