2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Black Stars suffer Ernest Nuamah blow as Kim Lars Bjorkegren drafts in three GPL players

Ghana head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has handed maiden call-ups to three home-based players for the Black Stars’ crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Somalia as he seeks to revive the country’s faltering campaign.

Asante Kotoko defender Musa Hamzata and Medeama SC duo Emmanuel Annor and Etse Dogli have been rewarded for their impressive performances in the Ghana Premier League with places in the 26-man squad.

The trio will have an opportunity to make their international debuts as Ghana attempt to secure their first points in Group C after a disastrous start to the qualifying campaign.

Hamzata has earned recognition for his performances in defence for Asante Kotoko, while forward Annor and midfielder Dogli have impressed with their consistent displays for Medeama.

Their inclusion represents a significant opportunity for the domestic-based players to establish themselves in the national team as Björkegren looks to introduce fresh options ahead of two must-win encounters.

However, the coach has suffered a major setback with the withdrawal of winger Ernest Nuamah, who has been ruled out of the fixtures because of a recurring muscle injury.

Nuamah injury blow compounds Ghana’s problems

Nuamah’s absence comes as a considerable setback for the Black Stars, particularly after his performances during the previous international window.

The winger was Ghana’s standout performer despite the team’s disappointing results against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, making his unavailability a major concern for Björkegren.

His injury further complicates Ghana’s preparations as they seek to address the shortcomings that contributed to their poor start in the qualifiers.

The Black Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké before enduring an embarrassing 4-2 loss to The Gambia on home soil.

Those results have left Ghana bottom of Group C without a point from their opening two matches, putting their ambitions of qualifying for the 2027 tournament under significant pressure.

The technical team will now have to find alternatives to Nuamah’s attacking threat while integrating the three new additions into the squad.

Ghana face must-win Somalia double-header

Ghana have little room for further mistakes when they take on Somalia in consecutive qualifying matches this month.

The first encounter is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2026, with kick-off set for 15:00 GMT, before the two countries meet again in the return fixture on Monday, November 16, at the same time.

The double-header presents Björkegren with an opportunity to get his tenure back on track and restore confidence within the squad following the disappointing defeats in September.

With no points from their opening two outings, Ghana must collect maximum points from both matches to keep their hopes of returning to the Africa Cup of Nations alive.

The Black Stars have missed the last two editions of the continental competition and are under pressure to avoid another qualifying disappointment.

The introduction of Hamzata, Annor and Dogli could provide the team with additional options, but the responsibility will be on the entire squad to deliver results.