Jordan Ayew against Sudan - Photo: Ghana Football Association.
Ghana’s Black Stars will navigate their final game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Niger minus four of their key players on Tuesday.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have confirmed in a statement that captain Jordan Ayew, Gideon Mensah, Alidu Seidu and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku have all been ruled out of the Group F fixture at Accra Sports Stadium owing to injuries.
“Jordan Ayew, Gideon Mensah, Alidu Seidu and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku have been ruled out of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger due to injuries,” read part of the statement seen by Pan-Africa Football.
The statement continued: “Alidu Seidu and Gideon Mensah who had to pass a late fitness tests for the Angola game, have been ruled out after further post-game medical assessment revealed findings that make them unfit for selection.
“Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku sustained injuries during the Angola match. Although Ayew completed the game, MRI scans in Accra revealed significant issues with his knee. Issahaku was substituted in the first half due to his injury.Following consultations between Black Stars' medical head Dr. Prince Pambo and Leicester City's medical team, Ayew and Issahaku will rejoin their club on Sunday to begin rehabilitation.”
The game against Niger will be of no significance for the Black Stars as they have already missed out on the ticket to the Morocco tournament. Ghana’s hopes of reaching the AFCON ended in heartbreak as a late equaliser saw Angola hold them to a 1-1 draw in Luanda on Friday.
Despite taking an early lead through Jordan Ayew’s stunning free-kick in the 18th minute, the Black Stars could not hold onto their advantage. Zine's powerful header in the 64th minute ultimately crushed Ghana's AFCON dreams.
This result meant Ghana, four-time champions, will miss the tournament for the first time in two decades, their last absence being in the 2004 edition in Tunisia. The draw left the Black Stars rooted at the bottom of Group F with just three points from five matches, failing to secure a single victory in the qualification campaign.
Angola tops the group with 13 points, having already secured their ticket to Morocco.
Comments