Rapper and businessman D-Black has expressed concern over the growing number of players unavailable to the Black Stars ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
His comments come after several players, including Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus, withdrew from the squad ahead of Ghana’s opening Group C fixtures against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
Reacting to the developments on social media, D-Black questioned the reason for their unavailable for national team duty.
“Inaki Williams, now Semenyo, Baba Rahman withdrawing from playing for Black Stars for AFCON…. Something must be very wrong up there,” he tweeted.
Semenyo was initially included in Carlos Queiroz’s 24-man squad for the qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, as well as the international friendly against Morocco. He has since withdrawn amid injury concerns.
Kudus has also pulled out of the squad as he continues his recovery after recently returning to competitive action. Queiroz explained that the decision was taken after discussions with the player to allow him to rest and continue his recovery.
Nathaniel Adjei and Prince Kwabena Adu are among the other players who have withdrawn because of injury concerns, while Inaki Williams’ absence is for a different reason, having announced his retirement from international football earlier this month.
The growing list of absentees has forced Queiroz to make several additions to his squad. The Ghana Football Association has confirmed the inclusion of nine players, including Jonas Adjetey, Alidu Seidu, Ebenezer Annan, Rockson Yeboah, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan.
Queiroz himself has acknowledged that the withdrawals have complicated Ghana’s preparations, revealing that the team had lost eight players even before the start of camp.
The Black Stars are scheduled to open their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign away against Côte d’Ivoire on September 24 before hosting The Gambia in Accra on September 29. They will then face Morocco in an international friendly on October 4.
