Ghana’s World Cup ambitions have suffered a major setback following confirmation that defender Mohamed Salisu has sustained a serious knee injury that could rule him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The AS Monaco centre-back is expected to miss the remainder of the season after picking up the injury during his side’s 3–1 defeat to Olympique Lyonnais at the Stade Louis II on Saturday, January 3.
Monaco confirmed on Monday that Salisu suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, placing his immediate future, and potential involvement in the World Cup, in serious doubt.
The development has compounded the club’s injury concerns, marking a second successive match in which a Monaco player has sustained an ACL setback.
Before the injury, Salisu had cemented his place in the starting line-up, stepping in impressively amid the absence of Soungoutou Magassa Mawissa and veteran defender Eric Dier.
His commanding performances brought much-needed stability to Monaco’s defence and underlined his growing influence at the club.
The blow is equally significant for Ghana. The 25-year-old has been a key figure for the four-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, forming a dependable central defensive partnership with Alexander Djiku.
Beyond his defensive solidity, Salisu has also contributed at the other end of the pitch, memorably scoring in Ghana’s famous victory over South Korea at the 2022 World Cup.
Salisu has featured in 12 matches across all competitions this season, scoring once.
Meanwhile, Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is expected to announce his final squad for the tournament on June 1.
