Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a major setback after it was confirmed that defender Mohammed Salisu will miss the tournament due to a serious knee injury.
The Black Stars centre back tore his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this year, ruling him out of contention for football’s biggest stage. Salisu had grown into a key figure at the heart of Ghana’s defence and was widely expected to play a leading role at the tournament, both on and off the pitch.
His absence leaves head coach Otto Addo facing a difficult challenge as he looks to reorganise his backline and replace the leadership Salisu brought to the team. With the World Cup fast approaching, the injury raises concerns about Ghana’s defensive depth against elite opposition.
Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama. The Black Stars are scheduled to open their campaign against Croatia on June 17 in Dallas, before facing England on June 23 in Boston. Their group stage journey will conclude with a fixture against Panama on June 27 in New Jersey.
While Ghana regroup following the injury setback, Croatia continue their build-up to the tournament with friendly matches lined up against Colombia on March 27 and Brazil on April 1. Both games form part of their pre-World Cup training camp in the United States.
With Salisu ruled out, Ghana must now rethink their defensive approach as they prepare to face some of the strongest teams in world football, knowing the road to success at the 2026 World Cup has just become significantly tougher.
