Ghana’s Black Stars Face Major Setback as Eight Players Withdraw from AFCON Qualifiers Due to Injuries

As Ghana gears up for vital Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger, the Black Stars are dealt a blow with eight players withdrawing from the squad due to injuries and personal reasons.

Among the absentees is forward Inaki Williams, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since November 7 and has been unable to train.

Tariq Lamptey is also out, struggling with persistent calf issues that flared up last week and require ongoing rehabilitation with his club.

Jonas Adjetey, who was close to a full recovery, suffered a setback in his last league match on November 9, ruling him out of participation.

Jerome Opoku is dealing with chronic back pain exacerbated during a Super Lig match against Besiktas on November 10 and is currently under his club’s medical care.

Antoine Semenyo is managing a patella tendon injury due to a demanding game schedule, and his club has advised him to see a tendon specialist to prevent further complications.

Additionally, Alexander Djiku has aggravated a hamstring issue, leading to an early substitution in his recent game on November 10.

Ibrahim Osman also joins the injury list with a recent hamstring issue that resulted in his substitution at halftime in his latest appearance.

Meanwhile, Joseph Paintsil has withdrawn for personal reasons.

These unexpected absences pose significant challenges for Coach Otto Addo as he prepares for the qualifiers, with the team aiming to secure crucial points and enhance their chances of qualifying for Morocco 2025.