The Black Stars of Ghana are facing a major setback ahead of their crucial 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar, as a staggering twelve key players have been ruled out due to injuries.

Coach Otto Addo will have to navigate these must-win matches without some of his most trusted names, including defensive stalwarts like Alidu Seidu, Abdul Mumin, and Joseph Aidoo. Seidu and Mumin are both sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, while Aidoo is struggling with a muscle issue.

The midfield has also been hit hard, with Baba Iddrisu recovering from an undisclosed issue, Majeed Ashimeru still in convalescence, and Daniel Kofi Kyereh nursing a knee injury. Abdul Manaf Nurudeen’s ankle problem further compounds the team’s selection woes.

On the attacking front, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Brandon Thomas-Asante are also out, with the former suffering an ACL injury and the latter dealing with a muscle tear. Joseph Paintsil, one of Ghana’s most creative forwards, will miss out due to a quadriceps injury, while Tariq Lamptey’s ankle ligament damage keeps him sidelined.

With such a depleted squad, the pressure is mounting on the available players to step up and secure vital points in the qualifying campaign. The injuries mean fresh faces could get an opportunity to impress, but Ghana’s path to the World Cup has just become significantly more challenging.