Ghana's preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have been severely disrupted by a wave of player withdrawals. Seven players, including key figures Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and captain Jordan Ayew, have been ruled out of the team's opening fixtures. This development comes just days before Ghana's Group C campaign begins against Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24. The withdrawals have forced head coach Carlos Queiroz to make significant changes to the squad.
Mohammed Kudus, who was set to return to the Black Stars squad after missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury, has withdrawn over fitness concerns. The Tottenham forward had been sidelined for about seven months before returning to action for his club. Kudus had not appeared for the Black Stars since October last year, and his inclusion in the squad for the AFCON qualifiers was seen as a boost. However, Queiroz explained that Kudus' fitness issues prompted the decision to protect him from suffering a setback.
In addition to Kudus, several other key players have been ruled out of the qualifiers. Antoine Semenyo has withdrawn due to a swollen ankle, while captain Jordan Ayew has been ruled out with a knee injury. The Sheffield United forward's absence will be particularly felt, as he was expected to provide experience and leadership to the team. The Black Stars have also lost several defensive options, including Baba Rahman, Nathaniel Adjei, Alidu Seidu, and Prince Kwabena Adu.
The Ghana Football Association has responded to the growing list of absentees by making several additions to the squad. Jonas Adjetey, Ebenezer Annan, Rockson Yeboah, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh, and Felix Afena-Gyan were added following the medical uncertainties. However, Seidu has since also become unavailable, further complicating Queiroz's plans. The GFA has cited "medical uncertainties presented by some players" as the reason for the changes.
Despite the setbacks, Queiroz has sought to play down the disruption and insists Ghana will continue with preparations. The Portuguese coach described the situation as having "a couple of holes in our boat" but said the technical team was working to fix them. Queiroz stressed that Ghana has little time to prepare, with the squad only coming together shortly before the opening qualifier. He emphasized that the team must focus on delivering results.
GFA President Kurt Okraku has defended the players amid the withdrawals, rejecting suggestions that players deliberately opted out of national duty. He said the absences were largely due to injuries and medical concerns and that no Ghanaian player had deliberately refused to play for the Black Stars during his tenure. Okraku urged Ghanaians to support the players who remain available for the qualifiers, saying the team must focus on securing qualification.
Queiroz will now have to rely on the reshaped squad for Ghana's first two Group C matches. The Black Stars travel to Bouaké to face Côte d'Ivoire on September 24, before returning home to host The Gambia on September 29. Ghana will then travel to Morocco for an international friendly against the Atlas Lions on October 4. The Black Stars are seeking to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
Key points
- Seven players, including Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew, have withdrawn from Ghana's 2027 AFCON qualifiers due to injuries and fitness concerns.
- Ghana's squad has been reshaped with several new additions, including Jonas Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan.
- The Black Stars face Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia in their opening Group C matches, with the team seeking to return to the Africa Cup of Nations.
