Black Stars in Turmoil: Key Players Withdraw as AFCON 2027Q Preparations Intensify
Ghana's Black Stars are facing significant squad challenges ahead of their 2027 AFCON qualifiers and an international friendly, with key players like Antoine Semenyo and Baba Rahman withdrawing due to injuries. Head Coach Carlos Queiroz has responded by making several new call-ups, including first-time national team selections, as the team prepares for crucial matches against Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, and Morocco.
Ghana's Black Stars are grappling with a significant number of withdrawals and medical uncertainties as they intensify preparations for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and an international friendly. Head Coach Carlos Queiroz has been compelled to make several additions to the squad to adequately compensate for the unavailability of key players due to various medical concerns.
Among the most notable withdrawals is Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo formally requested to be excused from the September-October international window, citing a persistent ankle injury he is focused on recovering from. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) was prepared to facilitate independent checks on his injury to clarify the situation further. Despite this setback for the national team, the 26-year-old had been enjoying an impressive start to the Premier League season, having scored two goals and provided three assists in just five appearances for his club.
Further compounding the team's challenges, defender Baba Rahman has also become a recent absentee. The PAOK player suffered a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for approximately two weeks. Rahman traveled to Ghana and underwent an assessment by the Black Stars medical team before he was officially excused from the squad. His withdrawal adds to an already growing list of players ruled out due to injuries, which includes prominent figures like Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, and Prince Adu Kwabena.
The Black Stars face a demanding schedule, commencing their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign away to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24. Five days later, they will return to Accra to host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium. Additionally, the team is slated to participate in an international friendly against Morocco.
In response to these player absences, Coach Queiroz has called up several new players to reinforce the squad. The defensive lineup has been bolstered with the additions of Jonas Adjetey (VfL Wolfsburg), Alidu Seidu (OGC Nice), Ebenezer Annan (Rapid Bucharest), and Rockson Yeboah (Osasuna), with Yeboah notably receiving his first call-up to the senior national team. In the midfield, Rahim Ibrahim (Slovan Bratislava) has also earned his inaugural call-up. The attacking options have been expanded with Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City), Mohammed Fuseini (Derby County), Benjamin Tetteh (Kalba), and Felix Afena-Gyan (Igdir FK).
The team officially opened its training camp in Accra on Monday, September 21, 2026, to begin intensive preparations for the double-header qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, as well as the friendly against Morocco. They are scheduled to continue their training diligently on Tuesday in readiness for these crucial assignments.