Ghana’s Black Stars have suffered a major setback ahead of their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches, with several key players withdrawing from the squad.
Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, former Chelsea defender Baba Rahman and defender Alidu Seidu are among the latest players reported to have pulled out of the squad due to injury concerns.
Their withdrawals come shortly after Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus opted out of the Black Stars’ latest assignment.
Semenyo’s withdrawal is particularly significant, given his impressive form for Manchester City. The forward recently scored twice and provided an assist in City’s Premier League victory over Sunderland before suffering an ankle problem.
Baba Rahman, who had returned to the national team setup, is also reported to have been ruled out after medical assessment, further reducing the options available to head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The latest developments add to concerns over the availability of key players as Ghana prepares for a demanding start to its AFCON qualifying campaign.
Kudus had earlier withdrawn from the squad as he continues his return to full fitness after a lengthy injury lay-off. The Tottenham marksman only recently returned to competitive football and is understood to be managing his workload as he builds up his fitness.
The growing list of absentees has forced the technical team to make changes to the squad, with several players called up as replacements.
The Black Stars are scheduled to begin their qualifying campaign away against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, September 24, before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.
The withdrawals present an early challenge for Queiroz, who will now have to rely on the depth of his squad as Ghana begins its quest to return to the AFCON after missing the 2025 tournament.
With several established players unavailable, attention will now turn to the replacements and emerging talents expected to shoulder greater responsibility in the crucial opening fixtures.
By: Christian Kpesese
