Huge blow for Otto Addo as eight players withdraw from Ghana squad for AFCON Qualifiers

By: Muharuna12 | 2 mins read

Black Stars coach Otto Addo has endured a major setback as eight of the 25 named players have withdrawn from the squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ghana is preparing to take on Angola and Niger, hoping to pick up six points to boost their slim hopes of qualifying for next year's continental event.

The Black Stars are winless in their last four matches, which has left them sitting third in Group F and trailing second-placed Sudan by five points with two round of matches left to play.

However, plans to bridge that gap have hit a snag with several key players now unavailable.

In-form players, including center-back Alexander Djiku, forward Antoine Semenyo, and striker Inaki Williams, have picked up injuries ruling them out of the matches.

Right-back Tariq Lamptey will also miss the upcoming fixtures due to a calf issue, while center-backs Jonas Adjetey and Jerome Opoku, along with winger Ibrahim Osman - who sustained a hamstring injury - are all unavailable.

Joseph Paintsil has withdrawn due to "personal" reasons.

Their replacements include Osman Bukari, Ransford Yeboah Koningsdorffer, Forson Amankwah, Terry Yegbe, Ebenezer Annan, and Kingsley Schindler.

The team began camp on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium, with departure to Luanda scheduled for Wednesday ahead of their clash against Angola on November 15.

Ghana will then host Niger three days later at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Otto Addo and his boys are in need of victories and hope Sudan suffer defeats to stand a chance of qualifying for Morocco 2025.