Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has defended the Black Stars players who have withdrawn from the squad ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. The withdrawals come as Ghana prepares to face Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, 24 September, and host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later. Okraku emphasized that no player has deliberately turned down an invitation to represent Ghana since he became GFA president.
Several key players, including captain Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Baba Rahman, Alidu Seidu, Nathaniel Adjei, and Prince Kwabena Adu, have withdrawn from the squad due to injuries or personal reasons. In response to these absences, head coach Carlos Queiroz has made late additions to the squad, calling up Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan, and Jonas Adjetey, while Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have received their first senior national team invitations.
Okraku attributed the withdrawals to the physical demands placed on players, coupled with their club commitments. He stated that players often have serious issues and are sometimes forced to play due to their full-time employment. Okraku expressed that it is unfortunate that some players have withdrawn, but it is not their fault. He emphasized that the technical team's duty is to invite players, but sometimes issues arise.
Ghana is seeking a return to the AFCON finals after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco. The Black Stars' last appearances at the competition were consecutive, but they were unable to secure a spot in the 2025 edition. Okraku's comments come as the team prepares for a crucial qualifying campaign.
The GFA president's comments were made during an interview with Asempa FM. Okraku has been GFA president since 2019 and has overseen several significant developments in Ghanaian football. His defense of the withdrawn players highlights the challenges faced by national teams in managing player availability.
Following the AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia, Ghana will face Morocco in an international friendly in Tangier on 4 October. This match will provide Queiroz with an opportunity to continue preparations for the remainder of the qualifying campaign. The friendly match will be an essential test for the team.
The Black Stars' qualifying campaign for AFCON 2027 is crucial for the team's growth and Ghanaian football's progress. With a challenging group and tough opponents, the team's performance will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. The GFA's efforts to support the team and manage player availability will be vital in the coming months.
Key points
- No player has deliberately turned down an invitation to represent Ghana since Kurt Okraku became GFA president.
