Injury crisis hits Ghana’s Afcon 2025 hopes as Semenyo, Williams, and Lamptey lead list of absentees

Eight Ghanaian players have withdrawn from the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger, citing various reasons, including injuries and personal matters.

The list of absentees includes key names such as Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jonas Adjetey, Tariq Lamptey, Jerome Opoku, Alexander Djiku, Ibrahim Osman, and Joseph Paintsil.

Inaki Williams: The forward is sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained on 7 November. He has been unable to participate in training sessions since the injury occurred.

Tariq Lamptey: The right-back is undergoing rehabilitation for calf discomfort that worsened last week. His club’s medical staff has advised he sit out the qualifiers to focus on recovery.

Jonas Adjetey: Adjetey, who was nearing full fitness, suffered a setback in his recovery during his club’s league match on Saturday, 9 November.

Jerome Opoku: The defender is struggling with chronic back pain that intensified during a recent Turkish Super Lig game against Besiktas on 10 November. Opoku remains under his club’s care for rehabilitation.

Antoine Semenyo: Suffering from a patella tendon injury attributed to an overload of games, Semenyo has been referred to a tendon specialist to prevent further complications.

Alexander Djiku: Djiku’s withdrawal follows an aggravated hamstring injury that forced him off the field during his club’s last match on 10 November.

Ibrahim Osman: Osman picked up a hamstring injury in his latest club appearance, which led to his substitution at half-time.

Joseph Paintsil: Paintsil cited personal reasons for his absence from the squad.

These withdrawals mark a challenging period for Ghana’s national team as they look to secure qualification for AFCON, highlighting the ongoing issue of player fitness and recovery in a demanding football calendar.