Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has called on the media to avoid overstating the issue of player withdrawals from the Black Stars squad. The withdrawals come ahead of Ghana's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. Okraku emphasized that the withdrawals are genuine and not related to the GFA, the coach, or technical staff. He made these comments during an interview on Asempa FM's Ultimate Sports Show on September 23.
Several key players have pulled out of the squad due to injuries or personal issues. Ghana's head coach, Carlos Queiroz, had initially released a 24-man squad for the qualifiers. However, a few days later, about seven players, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Nathaniel Adjei, and Alidu Seidu, withdrew. Okraku explained that Jordan Ayew and Baba Rahman were advised to focus on their clubs after medical assessments.
Okraku provided further details on the withdrawals of other players. He stated that Semenyo's absence was due to a physical reaction after playing for his club over the weekend. Antoine Semenyo had a swollen leg that prevented him from joining the squad. Okraku emphasized that the GFA is aware of the medical history of all players. The withdrawals have prompted Queiroz to make changes to the squad.
New players have been called up to the Black Stars squad. Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan, and Jonas Adjetey have been drafted in for the upcoming fixtures. Additionally, Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have received their first senior international call-ups. These changes come as Ghana looks to start anew after failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco.
Ghana's Black Stars are set to play a series of international matches. The team will travel to Bouaké to face Côte d'Ivoire on September 24. They will then return home to take on Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later. Ghana will also play a friendly match against Morocco in Tangier on October 4.
Kurt Okraku expressed confidence in the team's abilities despite the setbacks. He stressed that the injured players are not pulling out due to any issues with the GFA or technical staff. Okraku believes that the team can still perform well in the upcoming matches.
The Black Stars' performance in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers will be crucial for Ghanaian football. The team's success or failure will have implications for the country's football development. The GFA and coaching staff will be working to ensure the team achieves its goals despite the challenges posed by player withdrawals.
Key points
- Ghana's Black Stars face challenges ahead of 2027 AFCON qualifiers due to player withdrawals.
- GFA president Kurt Okraku urges media not to overstate player withdrawals.
- New players called up to the squad as Ghana prepares for international matches.
