AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Ghana suffer Alexander Djiku injury blow ahead of Gambia clash

Ghana will be without experienced defender Alexander Djiku when the Black Stars face The Gambia in their second 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Tuesday.

Djiku has been ruled out of the crucial Group C encounter after failing to recover from the injury he sustained during Ghana’s opening qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday.

The experienced centre-back was forced off during the 2-0 defeat to the Elephants after picking up the injury, leaving the Black Stars with a defensive concern ahead of their first home fixture of the qualifying campaign.

His absence will be a setback for Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz, who will now have to make changes to his defensive setup as the team looks to respond to the disappointing result in Côte d’Ivoire.

Djiku’s experience at international level has made him an important part of the Black Stars’ defensive options, and losing him ahead of Tuesday’s game further reduces Queiroz’s choices at the back.

Ghana started their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign on a disappointing note, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire after Malick Junior Yalcouyé opened the scoring before Franck Kessié converted a second-half penalty.

The result means the Black Stars are under pressure to secure their first points of the campaign when they return home to face The Gambia.

The Gambia will arrive in Accra with their own ambitions, making Tuesday’s encounter an important fixture for both sides as the Group C campaign begins to take shape.

Ghana will be hoping to use home advantage to bounce back from the defeat in Bouaké, but they must do so without Djiku, who will remain on the sidelines as he continues his recovery.

The Black Stars are expected to assess their remaining defensive options ahead of the match, with Queiroz needing to find a suitable replacement capable of helping Ghana keep their first clean sheet of the campaign.

The match at the Accra Sports Stadium will therefore carry added importance for Ghana, who cannot afford another setback after losing their opening qualifier.

A victory over The Gambia would provide the Black Stars with the response they need and put their qualification campaign back on track, while Djiku will have to watch from the sidelines as his teammates attempt to secure the crucial three points.