The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced that Jordan Ayew, Gideon Mensah, Alidu Seidu, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku will miss the final group-stage match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Niger due to injuries.
A GFA statement confirmed that Seidu and Mensah, who underwent late fitness tests prior to Ghana’s 1-1 draw against Angola, have been declared unfit following post-match medical evaluations.
Meanwhile, Ayew and Issahaku sustained injuries during the Angola game, further depleting the squad ahead of their concluding Group F fixture.
Jordan Ayew, who suffered significant knee damage, underwent MRI scans which revealed the extent of his injury.
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was forced off the pitch in the first half against Angola due to injury concerns.
Both players will return to their respective clubs on Sunday to begin rehabilitation after consultations between Dr. Prince Pambo, head of Ghana’s medical team, and Leicester City’s medical staff.
Seidu and Mensah, who had shown signs of discomfort before the Angola match, have also been ruled out after failing to recover in time.
Ghana’s AFCON 2025 qualification hopes ended on a disappointing note following their draw with Angola on Friday.
The result left the Black Stars languishing in fourth place in Group F with just three points from five matches, eliminating any possibility of advancing to the tournament in Morocco.
With Ghana at the bottom of their group, the upcoming match against Niger holds no competitive significance.
This campaign marks a historic low for the Black Stars, who will miss the continental tournament for the first time in over two decades.
Despite the circumstances, the team is set to hold their final training session on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium in preparation for the match.
While the fixture lacks importance in the standings, it offers the remaining players a chance to end a disappointing campaign on a positive note.
The absence of several key players, combined with Ghana’s inability to secure qualification, highlights a difficult period for the once-dominant Black Stars.
With fans and analysts questioning the team’s direction, this setback serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Ghanaian football.
