Ghana captain Jordan Ayew has been ruled out of the Black Stars’ opening matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after suffering a knee injury.
The Sheffield United forward joined the national team’s training camp on Monday but did not take part in training. A scan on Tuesday morning confirmed a knee problem that will keep the 34-year-old out of the upcoming fixtures.
Ayew’s absence is another blow for new head coach Carlos Queiroz as Ghana prepare to begin their qualifying campaign after a disrupted build-up.
The experienced forward has been one of the Black Stars’ most dependable players for more than a decade, making him another significant loss for a squad already depleted by several withdrawals.
Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Baba Rahman, Alidu Seidu and Prince Kwabena Adu are also unavailable for the upcoming matches for various reasons.
Ghana open their Group C campaign with a difficult away fixture against Côte d’Ivoire at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on 24 September.
The Black Stars then host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on 27 September before rounding off the international window with a friendly against Morocco at the Grand Stade de Tanger on 4 October.
Ghana are aiming to secure a return to the AFCON finals after missing out on the previous tournament in Morocco.
