Ghana’s goalkeeping coach has expressed confidence that Lawrence Ati-Zigi could still be available for the Black Stars’ crucial FIFA World Cup Group L clash against England, stressing that the technical team will not rush any decision regarding the goalkeeper’s fitness.
Ati-Zigi suffered an injury during Ghana’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their tournament opener after producing a series of outstanding saves that kept the Black Stars in the contest. The St. Gallen shot-stopper was replaced at half-time after receiving treatment on multiple occasions during the opening 45 minutes.
The 29-year-old has since undergone medical scans, with the official findings yet to be confirmed. However, reports indicate that he remains a major doubt for Tuesday’s encounter in Boston after training away from the main group on Saturday.
Despite the uncertainty, Ghana’s goalkeeping coach has delivered an encouraging update, revealing that Ati-Zigi is responding well to treatment and continues to be assessed on a daily basis by the technical and medical staff.
“We’re extremely happy with his progress. It’s day by day. Obviously, this is a medical issue collaborated with head coach Carlos Queiroz, so we’ll take it session by session,” he told Ghanafa.org.
The coach emphasized that while there is optimism surrounding the goalkeeper’s recovery, the Black Stars will only make a final decision when the timing is right.
“We’re optimistic, and the decision will be made at the right time. But one thing is for sure, we always stress the team above the individual. Any decision we make is in the best interest of the team,” he added.
Ati-Zigi was one of Ghana’s standout performers against Panama, making several crucial saves before injury forced him off the pitch. His commanding display played a significant role in keeping the score level before Caleb Yirenkyi struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner to hand the Black Stars all three points.
Should the first-choice goalkeeper fail to recover in time, head coach Carlos Queiroz still has dependable options at his disposal. Benjamin Asare impressed after replacing Ati-Zigi against Panama, while Joseph Anang is also available for selection. Solomon Agbasi remains with the squad in camp despite not being included in Ghana’s official 26-man World Cup squad.
The Black Stars head into Tuesday’s showdown against England full of confidence after their winning start to the tournament. Another positive result would put Ghana in a strong position to secure qualification for the Round of 32, making Ati-Zigi’s fitness one of the key storylines ahead of the highly anticipated encounter.
