Ghana’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have suffered a blow with the news that central defender Alexander Djiku will be unavailable due to injury. The Fenerbahçe player, who was named in coach Otto Addo’s 23-man squad for the crucial opening matches, has been forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury during a Turkish Super Lig match.
Djiku limped off the field in Fenerbahçe’s game against Alanyaspor on Friday, leaving in the 61st minute after experiencing discomfort.
Medical tests confirmed the worst fears of both the club and the Ghanaian national team staff—he has suffered a grade 1 sprain in the front of his right quadriceps, ruling him out of the qualifiers.
The 30-year-old defender, a key figure for the Black Stars since his debut in 2020, has been an ever-present force in the heart of Ghana’s defense, earning 31 caps for the national side.
His absence comes at a critical time as Ghana begins its campaign for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, with the first two qualifying matches scheduled against Angola on September 5 and Niger four days later.
Djiku’s injury has been assessed by Fenerbahçe’s medical team, who estimate that he will require around 10 to 14 days to recover fully.
This timeframe means the defender will miss the entirety of the international break but should be able to return to club action shortly after.
Djiku will use this period to focus on rehabilitation and regain his fitness ahead of Fenerbahçe’s upcoming fixtures.
This setback leaves Ghana coach Otto Addo with a significant defensive gap to fill as the Black Stars aim to make a strong start in the race to qualify for AFCON 2025, set to be held in Morocco.
Djiku’s experience and leadership will be sorely missed in a squad that has relied on his stability at the back.
Since joining Fenerbahçe earlier in the summer, Djiku had begun to settle into his role within the Turkish giants, further building on a solid career that has seen him play in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg before his move to Istanbul.
His contributions to Ghana’s national team have been invaluable, particularly during major tournaments and high-stakes qualification campaigns.
Ghana will now have to face Angola and Niger without their defensive talisman, which could pose a challenge for Addo’s side as they look to secure early qualification points.
The team’s depth will be tested, and it will be up to other players to step up in Djiku’s absence to ensure that Ghana remains on track in their pursuit of continental glory.
Despite this injury setback, Djiku’s history of resilience and determination to return stronger from adversity should give hope to both his club and country that he will soon be back to his best, ready to contribute on the international stage once again.
