2027 AFCONQ: No player deliberately withdrew from Black Stars squad – Kurt Okraku

Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has refuted claims that any Black Stars players deliberately refused to join the national team prior to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The national team has faced several withdrawals before their Group C opener against Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia. Injured or otherwise unavailable players include Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Nathaniel Adjei and Alidu Seidu.

Okraku, speaking to Asempa FM, stated that no Ghanaian player intentionally opted out of representing their country since he has been the FA president. He explained that club football demands often leave players with injuries that carry over to international matches. Okraku added that many players push themselves to perform at the club level because of their full-time employment, leading to late withdrawals.

He also noted that late withdrawals are common in international football, with at least five players typically dropping out for medical reasons. Head coach Carlos Queiroz has adjusted his squad in response to the withdrawals, bringing in players like Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan and Jonas Adjetey, while also giving first-time senior calls to Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim.

Ghana will kick off their qualifying campaign on September 24th with a match against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, followed by a home game against Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium three days later. The Black Stars aim to regain their spot in the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, and will conclude their international window with a friendly against Morocco in Tangier on October 4th.