The Black Stars have suffered a major blow ahead of their Asian tour, as six key players — Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Alexander Djiku, Fatawu Isahaku, and Joseph Paintsil — have all been withdrawn from the squad due to injuries.
Sources say the affected players, though initially named in Otto Addo’s traveling team, will remain with their clubs to undergo recovery and medical supervision. The decision was reached after consultations between the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the players’ clubs, and the national team’s medical staff, prioritizing the players’ long-term fitness over the upcoming fixtures.
Ghana is scheduled to face Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup on Friday, November 14, at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi, before taking on South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.
To cover the absences, coach Otto Addo has handed call-ups to several fresh faces, including Prince Owusu of CF Montréal, Kelvin Nkrumah from Medeama SC, and Prince Kwabena Adu, who plays in the Czech Republic.
The friendly matches will provide Addo with a crucial opportunity to test the depth of his squad ahead of Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance, with the group stage draw set for December 5 in Washington.