AFCON 2027Q: Alexander Djiku ruled out of clash against Gambia
The centre-back was forced off prematurely during Ghana's opening qualifying match against Ivory Coast in Bouaké after picking up an injury.
Ghana's Alexander Djiku will not feature in Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia due to an ongoing injury. The Russian Spartak Moscow defender was sidelined following Ghana’s 2-0 loss to Côte d’Ivoire last Thursday and hasn't managed to recover sufficiently to play in the second Group C fixture. Despite his expressed determination to return in time, Djiku's absence presents a significant defensive challenge for coach Carlos Queiroz.
The Black Stars' injury woes are compounded by the already extensive list of absentees, including Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Alidu Seidu, Nathaniel Adjei, and Baba Rahman, among others. Djiku had only recently rejoined the national team after missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury, making this setback yet another setback for the defender.
Ghana are due to host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, with the match commencing at 16:00 GMT, as they attempt to secure their first points of the qualifying campaign. Currently languishing at the bottom of Group C following their opening defeat to Côte d’Ivoire, the Black Stars are striving to reinstate themselves and regain their place in the AFCON tournament, which they were absent from in Morocco.
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