Black Stars and Leicester City midfielder Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw against Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
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The injury occurred during the Group E clash in Luanda, forcing Fatawu to be substituted at halftime. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) later confirmed that he had “significant issues with his knee,” which also ruled him out of Ghana’s 2-1 loss to Niger in the final qualifying round at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Length of Absence
The 19-year-old underwent successful knee surgery following the injury and is expected to be sidelined for six to nine months. This timeline means the talented midfielder will miss the remainder of the Premier League season and Ghana’s AFCON campaign in Côte d’Ivoire in early 2025.
Sharing an update on Instagram, Fatawu expressed gratitude for the successful surgery:
“All glory be to Almighty Allah. My surgery was successful and I just want to tell you that I am okay and I am feeling good. I want to thank everyone for your best wishes.”
A Promising Season Cut Short
Before the injury, Fatawu was in sensational form. He was the Premier League’s top performer in successful dribbles completed before the November international break and had provided two assists in 11 league appearances for Leicester City. His creativity and flair were integral to the Foxes’ impressive return to the English top flight after their promotion from the Championship last season.
Fatawu’s performances had drawn praise from pundits, with former England international Gary Lineker describing him as a “special talent” and urging Leicester City’s manager, Steve Cooper, to build the team around him.
Impact on Leicester City and Ghana
Fatawu’s absence is a major blow for both club and country. Leicester City will now have to rely on alternative attacking options to maintain their position in the league. For Ghana, the timing is particularly unfortunate as the Black Stars look ahead to the AFCON tournament, where Fatawu’s creativity and work rate would have been crucial.
The road to recovery will be long, but Fatawu Issahaku’s potential and resilience suggest he will come back stronger. For now, both Leicester City fans and Ghanaian supporters will be eagerly awaiting his return to action.
