KRC Genk star man Joseph Paintsil has been ruled out of Ghana’s game against the Central African Republic (CAR) in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying.
The Black Stars arrived in Kumasi today to prepare for the crucial Group E encounter scheduled for the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday, September 7.
However, they will have to do so without the services of the talented winger due to an injury.
The setback that has sidelined Paintsil was incurred during Genk’s last game before the international break on Sunday, September 3.
This revelation came via an official statement from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) released on Tuesday.
In the words of the GFA statement, “The Technical team of the Black Stars has granted Joseph Painstil permission to return to his club in Belgium due to injury.
“The winger sustained the injury in the last period of his league game against Anderlecht on Sunday and was later substituted – forcing him to withdraw from Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic.
The statement also confirmed that Paintsil would promptly return to his club to commence rehabilitation, consequently ruling him out of the friendly match against Liberia scheduled for September 12 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Coach Chris Hughton is now left with 24 players at his disposal for both fixtures:
Goalkeepers:
Lawrence Ati Zigi, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Richard Ofori
Defenders:
Alidu Seidu, Kingsley Schindler, Stephan Ambrosius, Joseph Aidoo, Alexander Djiku, Nicholas Opoku, Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah
Midfielders:
Abdul Samed Salis, Baba Iddrisu, Edmund Addo, Andre Ayew, Elisha Owusu, Mohammed Kudus, Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer
Forwards:
Iñaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Ernest Nuamah, Osman Bukari, Jonathan Sowah
