With Ghana set to miss defender Mohammed Salisu for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there is a spot available for grabs in the squad that coach Otto Addo will name for the tournament.
Salisu ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a Ligue 1 encounter against Olympique Lyonnais in January, dealing a major blow to both club and country.
Although the 26-year-old has undergone successful surgery and has started light gym work as part of his rehabilitation, Dr Pambo said the severity of the injury makes a return in time for the World Cup impossible.
Speaking after a medical visit to Salisu in France, the Black Stars doctor explained that the defender will need up to 9 months to make a full recovery.
“Mohammed Salisu will miss the World Cup; his knee injury requires nine months to recover,” he told Accra-based Asempa FM.
With the latest development, several players now have a shot at making the Black Stars squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Five players who could replace Salisu in the squad include Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), Patrick Pfeiffer (Darmstadt), Dacosta Antwi (RSC Anderlecht), Kojo Peprah (OGC Nice), or recovering Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano) who is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup.
These players must show a top performance at a consistent level in the upcoming months to merit in a place in coach Otto Addo’s squad as a replacement for Mohammed Salisu.
