{
  "id": 10381457,
  "title": "2027 AFCONQ: Alexander Djiku ruled out for The Gambia game due to injury",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/2027-afconq-alexander-djiku-ruled-out-for-the-gambia-game-due-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T06:15:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/2027-afconq-alexander-djiku-ruled-out-for-the-gambia-game-due-to-injury/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Ghana defender Alexander Djiku has been ruled out of Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia after failing to recover from the injury he sustained in last week’s defeat by Côte d’Ivoire. The experienced centre-back, who plays for Russian side Spartak Moscow, was forced off during Ghana’s 2-0 loss in Bouaké on […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}