Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, is dealing with a growing number of injury concerns and player withdrawals ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. Head coach Carlos Queiroz has had to make several changes to his squad due to medical concerns. The team's preparation for the qualifiers has been disrupted by these developments.
Mohammed Kudus, a forward for Tottenham Hotspur, has withdrawn from the team to continue his recovery. Antoine Semenyo, a Manchester City forward, has also reportedly pulled out of the squad due to a swollen ankle injury. Semenyo's withdrawal comes after an impressive performance for Manchester City, where he scored twice and provided an assist in their 5-3 Premier League victory over Sunderland on September 20.
Defender Abdul Rahman Baba has been ruled out of the upcoming matches due to an injury. Medical checks confirmed that the PAOK left-back is not fit to feature during the international window. His absence adds to Queiroz's defensive concerns as Ghana prepares for the qualifiers. The team is facing significant challenges in the lead-up to the crucial matches.
Alidu Seidu, a player for OGC Nice, is also facing a reported fitness concern. However, his situation requires caution, and the Ghana Football Association's latest squad update lists Seidu among the players added to the team following medical uncertainties. The team's medical staff is working to assess the severity of his injury and determine his availability for the qualifiers.
Prince Kwabena Adu, a forward for Viktoria Plzeň, is another player facing uncertainty due to a head injury sustained during a match against Slavia Prague. His club coach, Radoslav Kováč, has not yet received information from the medical team on the severity of the injury. Adu's participation in the qualifiers is currently a major doubt.
The list of players who have withdrawn or are facing injury concerns includes Mohammed Kudus, Nathaniel Adjei, Prince Kwabena Adu, Antoine Semenyo, Abdul Rahman Baba, Thomas Partey, and Alidu Seidu. The team's coach, Carlos Queiroz, is working to assemble a fully fit squad for the qualifiers against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
The Black Stars' coaching staff and medical team are working to address the injury concerns and finalize the squad for the upcoming matches. The team's performance in the qualifiers will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- 1. Ghana's Black Stars face multiple withdrawals and injury concerns ahead of 2027 AFCON qualifiers. 2. Several high-profile players, including Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo, have withdrawn from the squad due to injuries. 3. The team's coach, Carlos Queiroz, is working to assemble a fully fit squad for the qualifiers against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.
