Published September 23, 2026
Ghana opens its qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on Thursday, September 24, at 19:00 GMT. The Gambia visit Accra five days later. Morocco follow in a friendly on October 4. Coach Carlos Queiroz says Ghana lost eight players before camp opened.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The evidence points to injuries and medical decisions. It does not point to players refusing to play. GFA president Kurt Okraku says no player deliberately turned down Ghana. One case, Mohammed Kudus, is a recovery decision agreed with the coach. Iñaki Williams retired, which is a separate matter. Some details differ between outlets. Those are flagged below.
PLAYER BY PLAYER
Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham)
Queiroz named him on September 18. He is back from a seven-month injury layoff and missed the 2026 World Cup. Queiroz says talks with the player convinced the staff to give him more recovery time. He has not yet completed a full match since returning. One report cites an ankle injury. Most others cite recovery.
Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
He scored twice and set up a goal in City’s 5-3 win over Sunderland on September 20. Okraku says Semenyo told the coach his leg is swollen and needs treatment. He offered to travel for a re-examination if needed. Outlets describe the injury as an ankle, foot or leg problem. One report says he asked to be excused. The GFA rejects this version.
Jordan Ayew (Sheffield United, captain)
Okraku says Ayew did not reject the call-up. He reported to camp in Ghana, and an MRI found an injury. Media reports name a groin problem.
Abdul Rahman Baba (PAOK)
Pulse reports he reported to camp for assessment and was ruled out. SportsWorldGhana noted on September 22 that the GFA had not confirmed his exit. Okraku later said the medical team told Baba and Ayew to focus on their clubs, with invitations possible in future.
Nathaniel Adjei (Lorient)
He hurt his hamstring against Le Mans and left after 75 minutes. Queiroz had recalled him after more than a year away.
Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzeň)
He was stretchered off with a head injury against Slavia Prague. His club coach had no medical update when Pulse reported. Outlets disagree on whether he is doubtful or out.
Thomas Partey (Al Shabab)
Hamstring concerns kept him out of the original 24, so he is not a withdrawal.
Alidu Seidu (Nice)
Reports raised a fitness concern. The GFA squad update lists him among the additions. His status is unclear.
Iñaki Williams (Athletic Club)
He announced his international retirement earlier this month. He made 28 appearances and scored two goals for Ghana. The GFA says he spoke to Queiroz and Okraku first. The association would have preferred him to stay.
Kamaldeen Sulemana
He was left out because of injury.
IMPACT ON THE TEAM
Attack takes the biggest hit. Kudus, Semenyo, Ayew, Adu, Williams and Sulemana are all unavailable. You lose creativity, goals and the captain in one window.
Midfield and defence thin out too. Partey, Kudus, Adjei and Baba are missing.
Preparation suffers. Queiroz has a rapidly changing squad two days before the opener, and late additions must integrate fast.
The stakes are high. Ghana missed the 2025 AFCON. Early points in Group C matter.
Public reaction is loud. Rapper D-Black said something must be very wrong. Treat this as opinion. No source has shown a rift between players and the GFA.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE NEW PLAYERS
Nine players joined the squad: Jonas Adjetey, Alidu Seidu, Ebenezer Annan, Rockson Yeboah, Rahim Ibrahim, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Mohammed Fuseini, Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan.
Your opportunity is minutes. Queiroz plans to use these fixtures to assess his options. A strong showing against Côte d’Ivoire or The Gambia puts you in the coach’s plans for the next window.
Your risk is cohesion. You arrive late, with little time to learn the system and your teammates.
Fuseini, a 22-year-old Derby County forward, came in after Kudus withdrew. Thomas-Asante was left out of the first list and is now back in.
HOME-BASED PLAYERS
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare of Hearts of Oak is the only locally based player in the squad. No home-based outfield player was selected. Coach J.E. Sarpong criticised this pattern. Ghana now replaces stars with foreign-based players again. My reading: the depth problem is a selection choice as much as an injury problem. That is analysis, not a reported fact.
WHAT TO WATCH
• September 24: Côte d’Ivoire away. Watch who starts in attack and who leads as captain.
• September 29: The Gambia in Accra. Watch whether the additions gain minutes.
• October 4: Morocco friendly. Watch who returns from injury.
• GFA updates: Baba, Seidu and Adu still need clear medical statements.
Sources: MyJoyOnline, Pulse Ghana, YEN.com.gh, SportsWorldGhana, Adomonline, Yahoo Sports.
