Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has addressed growing public concern over a string of injury-enforced withdrawals from the Black Stars squad ahead of the team’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures.
Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM, Okraku moved to dispel any suggestion that the absences reflect friction between players, the technical team, or the Football Association, insisting the issue is purely medical.
Semenyo played over the weekend and had a reaction. Antoine was willing to come, but he had a swollen leg. The medical team told Jordan Ayew and Baba Rahman to focus on their clubs,” Okraku said.
The comments confirm that Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, along with veteran forward Jordan Ayew and defender Baba Rahman, will miss the upcoming qualifiers due to fitness concerns flagged by medical staff, rather than any selection or disciplinary dispute.
Okraku was firm in urging the public and media to accept the situation at face value.
These players are injured, and that is the fact. It has nothing to do with the technical team or the Football Association. We should not overstretch this discussion because the situation at hand is real,” he said.
His remarks come as the Black Stars prepare for crucial qualifying matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, with the technical team now expected to assess alternative options to cover the gaps left by the unavailable players.