AFCON 2027Q: ‘No player deliberately turned down Ghana’ – Kurt defends injury withdrawals

Ghana's Football Association President, Kurt Okraku, has refuted claims that any Ghanaian player has intentionally withdrawn from the national team ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Several high-profile players, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, and Alidu Seidu, have missed recent qualifiers.

Kurt firmly stated that no player deliberately refused to represent Ghana, attributing the absences to genuine injuries and extensive training schedules. He explained that many players are overworked, given their full-time employment, and must make significant sacrifices to compete and earn their spots in the national team. Kurt emphasized that many athletes around the world withdraw due to medical reasons, underscoring the validity of the absences.

The Black Stars have responded to the recent setbacks with late call-ups, with players like Brandon Thomas-Asante, Felix Afena-Gyan, and Jonas Adjetey joining the squad. Additionally, Rockson Yeboah and Rahim Ibrahim have been included in the senior national team for the first time. Ghana will kick off their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24, followed by a home match against Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium five days later.