Ghana coach Otto Addo has been handed a major setback ahead of the Black Stars’ Asian tour, as several key players have withdrawn from the squad due to injuries and minor knocks.
Among those ruled out are Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Fatawu Issahaku, Joseph Paintsil, and Alexander Djiku.
Although they were initially named in the traveling squad, the players will remain with their clubs to rest and recover after mutual agreements between their teams and the Ghana Football Association’s medical staff. The clubs preferred not to risk their fitness by allowing them to travel for assessment by the national doctors.
Ghana is scheduled to play Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup on Friday, November 14, at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi, before facing South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.
To fill the gaps, Otto Addo has called up several new faces, including Prince Owusu (CF Montreal), Kelvin Nkrumah (Medeama SC), and Czech-based striker Prince Kwabena Adu.
The friendlies are expected to help the coach assess his squad options ahead of Ghana’s fifth FIFA World Cup appearance. The World Cup group stage draw will take place on December 5 in Washington, where Ghana will discover its opponents.
