Ghana’s bid to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has suffered a significant setback following the withdrawal of several key players due to injuries and personal reasons ahead of the crucial qualifiers.
The Black Stars are set to face Angola on November 15 and Niger on November 18 in Accra, with their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Antoine Semenyo, the AFC Bournemouth striker, is nursing a patella tendon injury caused by a heavy fixture load in his club’s schedule. Semenyo has been playing through the injury, but his club’s medical team has referred him to a specialist to prevent further damage and ensure he returns to full fitness.
This injury comes as a huge blow, as the forward has been a key figure in Ghana’s attack during the qualifiers.
Alexander Djiku, the central defender for French side Strasbourg, is also out after suffering an aggravated hamstring injury during a match on November 10.
The injury forced him off the pitch, and after undergoing medical assessments, it was determined that he would need time to recover before returning to action. Djiku’s absence will leave a hole in Ghana’s defense, especially as the team struggles with injury woes.
Ibrahim Osman, who plays for Egyptian club Al Masry, has been forced to withdraw after suffering a hamstring injury during his most recent club appearance.
Osman was substituted at halftime and subsequently ruled out of the national squad as medical personnel indicated that the injury would require a period of rest and rehabilitation.
Joseph Painstil, the winger for Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva, has also been excused from the squad due to personal reasons. While the nature of the personal issue has not been publicly disclosed, it adds to the growing list of absences for the national team.
With these key players unavailable, Ghana’s squad depth will be tested in the upcoming games, and the Black Stars will need to rely on their remaining players to navigate a path to qualification.
Ghana’s qualification chances for the 2025 AFCON now depend on a nearly miraculous turnaround, as the team has struggled in their recent fixtures.
If Ghana fails to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, it will mark the first time the nation has missed out on the prestigious tournament since 2004, a statistic that would be a bitter pill to swallow for the Black Stars and their passionate supporters.
As the team prepares for the double-header against Angola and Niger, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is expected to call up replacements to fill the gaps left by the injured and unavailable players.
The coaching staff, led by head coach Chris Hughton, will be hoping that the new faces can step up and deliver the results required to secure a place in the upcoming continental competition.
