AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: GFA boss Kurt Okraku defends Black Stars players withdrawals ahead of Ivory Coast and Gambia games

Ghana begin their qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, 24 September, before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later.

Captain Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Baba Rahman, Alidu Seidu, Nathaniel Adjei and Prince Kwabena Adu have all withdrawn from the squad because of injuries or personal reasons.

Okraku said no player had deliberately turned down an invitation to represent Ghana since he became GFA president.

“It was the duty of the technical team to invite players for the upcoming games, but unfortunately, we have had issues, and I want to place it on record that no player has ever refused to play for the Black Stars since I assumed office as the president of the Football Association,” he told Asempa FM.

He said the physical demands placed on players, coupled with their club commitments, could contribute to withdrawals from international duty.

“A lot of the players go through serious training, and some of them also have serious issues and some of them are forced to play because that is where they are employed full time,” Okraku added.

“It is unfortunate that some of our players have withdrawn, and it is not their fault.”

Head coach Carlos Queiroz has responded to the absences by making a number of late additions to the squad.

Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan and Jonas Adjetey have been called up, while Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have received their first senior national team invitations.

Ghana are seeking a return to the AFCON finals after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, bringing an end to their run of successive appearances at the competition.

After the two qualifiers, the Black Stars will face Morocco in an international friendly in Tangier on 4 October as Queiroz continues preparations for the remainder of the qualifying campaign.

Soucre:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet