Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has come to the defense of the Black Stars players who have withdrawn from the squad ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Okraku stated that no player has refused to represent the team since he took office. The withdrawals have been due to injuries and personal reasons, with several key players, including captain Jordan Ayew and Mohammed Kudus, unavailable for the upcoming matches.
The Black Stars are set to begin their qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, 24 September. Okraku attributed the withdrawals to the demanding training schedules at their clubs and injuries. He emphasized that it is not the fault of the players, adding that some of them have serious issues that force them to play as part of their full-time employment.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz has made late additions to the squad in response to the withdrawals. New call-ups include Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan, and Jonas Adjetey, while Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have received their first senior invitations. The team will face Côte d’Ivoire, followed by a match against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.
Okraku’s comments come as the Black Stars seek to return to the AFCON finals after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco. The team’s performance has been under scrutiny, with the recent withdrawals adding to the challenges. Okraku’s defense of the players aims to shift the focus away from player availability and onto the team’s preparation for the qualifiers.
The Black Stars will also face Morocco in an international friendly in Tangier on 4 October as part of their preparations for the remainder of the qualifying campaign. This match will provide Queiroz with an opportunity to assess his team’s performance against a top opponent and make further adjustments ahead of the qualifiers.
The Ghana Football Association has been working to address the issues affecting the team, including the withdrawals and the team’s overall performance. Okraku’s comments reflect the association’s efforts to support the players and the coaching staff as they prepare for the upcoming matches.
The 2027 AFCON qualifiers are a crucial part of the Black Stars’ campaign to return to the continental competition. With a challenging schedule ahead, the team will need to perform well to achieve their goals and qualify for the tournament.
Key points
- No player has refused to play for the Black Stars since Kurt Okraku assumed office as GFA president.
- The Black Stars face Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, and Morocco in upcoming matches as part of their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
- Several key players, including Jordan Ayew and Mohammed Kudus, have withdrawn from the squad due to injuries and personal reasons.
