Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has suffered another injury setback ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Left-back Baba Rahman has withdrawn from Carlos Queiroz's squad due to an injury, becoming the fourth player to do so. This follows the exits of Mohammed Kudus, Nathaniel Adjei, and Antoine Semenyo. The withdrawals have created a challenging preparation window for the Black Stars technical team.
Rahman was part of Queiroz's original 24-man selection for a three-match international window, which includes an AFCON qualifier against Côte d'Ivoire, another against The Gambia, and a friendly against Morocco. His absence creates a specific problem at left-back, but coach Queiroz may consider Gideon Mensah and Ebenezer Annan as alternatives. The team's preparation has been disrupted by the mounting injury list, reducing the depth Queiroz had originally intended to work with.
The Black Stars face a demanding schedule with limited room for error. Following the Côte d'Ivoire fixture on September 24, Ghana returns home to host The Gambia in Accra five days later. The window then closes with a trip to Tangier to face 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalist Morocco on October 4. The tight schedule leaves little margin to manage the squad, and the early withdrawals of key players have altered the balance of the group.
Carlos Queiroz had earlier expanded Ghana's squad after several key players withdrew for medical reasons. Nine additions have been made, covering different positions, including four defenders, one midfielder, and four forwards from clubs across Europe and Asia. This move aims to bolster the team's depth and options ahead of the upcoming matches.
The withdrawals of Kudus and Semenyo, both key attacking figures, had already altered the balance of the group. Rahman's exit adds further concerns at the back, forcing Queiroz to reshape his plans at short notice. The team's technical staff will need to make adjustments to ensure the team's performance is not severely impacted.
Baba Rahman's withdrawal is injury-related, according to Ghana Media Hub. The defender's absence will be felt, but the team's existing players will need to step up to fill the gap. Coach Queiroz will need to make tactical decisions to mitigate the impact of the withdrawals and ensure the team's success in the upcoming matches.
The Black Stars will look to navigate the challenging schedule and overcome the setbacks to achieve their goals. The team's performance in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the tournament. The team's technical staff will need to make strategic decisions to ensure the team's success.
Key points
- Baba Rahman's withdrawal is the fourth injury blow to the Black Stars squad ahead of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
- The team faces a demanding schedule with limited room for error in the upcoming matches.
- Coach Queiroz has expanded the squad with nine additions to bolster the team's depth and options.
