The Black Stars have suffered a major setback ahead of their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with eight players forced to withdraw due to injuries and personal reasons as reported by ghanafa
The affected players include Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jonas Adjetey, Tariq Lamptey, Jerome Opoku, Alexander Djiku, Ibrahim Osman, and Joseph Painstil. Here’s a closer look at why each player will be missing:
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1. Inaki Williams
The forward sustained a hamstring injury on November 7, preventing him from participating in training sessions. He remains sidelined as he continues his recovery process.
2. Tariq Lamptey
Lamptey has been dealing with calf discomfort that worsened last week. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation with his club, making it impossible for him to join the national team.
3. Jonas Adjetey
Adjetey was nearing a full recovery but experienced a setback during his club’s league match on Saturday, November 9. The injury relapse rules him out of the upcoming fixtures.
4. Jerome Opoku
Opoku’s chronic back pain was exacerbated during a Super Lig match against Besiktas on Sunday, November 10. He is now undergoing rehabilitation and has been deemed unfit for the qualifiers.
5. Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo is dealing with an injury to his patella tendon caused by an overload of matches. His club’s medical team has decided to use the international break to refer him to a tendon specialist to prevent further damage.
6. Alexander Djiku
Djiku aggravated an existing hamstring injury during his club’s match on Sunday, November 10. He had to be substituted early, making his availability for the national team impossible.
7. Ibrahim Osman
Osman also picked up a hamstring injury during his last game for his club, leading to his substitution at halftime. He is currently recovering and will not be able to participate in the qualifiers.
8. Joseph Painstil
Painstil has withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons, which have not been disclosed.
The absence of these key players presents a significant challenge for the Black Stars as they prepare for the crucial qualifiers. The coaching staff will have to make swift adjustments to the squad to maintain their competitive edge in the upcoming matches.
