Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has defended the mass withdrawals of key players from the Black Stars ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The four-time African champions will face Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia in their opening matches. Okraku attributed the absences to genuine injuries and personal reasons. He urged the media not to speculate about the withdrawals, emphasizing that they are unrelated to the GFA or the technical team.
Several key players have been ruled out, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Nathaniel Adjei, and Alidu Seidu. Okraku explained that Jordan Ayew and Baba Rahman were advised to focus on their clubs after medical assessments. Semenyo was withdrawn due to a reaction after playing over the weekend, while Antoine Semenyo was unable to join due to a swollen leg.
The GFA president emphasized that the federation is aware of the medical history of all players and that the situation is real. He downplayed the significance of the withdrawals, stating that it has nothing to do with the technical team or the Football Association. The Black Stars will begin their qualifying campaign away to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké on 24 September.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz has made changes to his squad, calling up Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan, and Jonas Adjetey as replacements. Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have received their first senior international invitations. The Black Stars are seeking a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
Ghana's national team has a rich history in the Africa Cup of Nations, having won the title four times. However, their absence from the 2025 tournament marked the first time in over two decades that they missed out on the continental finals. Queiroz's side will face a tough challenge in Group C, with matches against Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia.
The Black Stars will round off the international window with a friendly against Morocco in Tangier on 4 October. Okraku's comments come as a reassurance to fans, who are eager to see their team perform well in the qualifiers. The team's performance will be closely watched, given their history and the expectations of the Ghanaian football community.
The GFA has made efforts to ensure that the team is prepared for the qualifiers, despite the withdrawals. The team's medical team has been working closely with the players to assess their fitness levels. The Black Stars' matches against Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia will be crucial in determining their chances of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- The Black Stars face Côte d'Ivoire and Gambia in their 2027 AFCON qualifiers
- Several key players have been ruled out due to injuries and personal reasons
- The GFA has defended the mass withdrawals, attributing them to genuine reasons
