Ghana will be without captain Jordan Ayew for the opening matches of its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign after the forward was ruled out with a groin injury.
Ayew sustained the injury during Sheffield United’s defeat to Stoke City over the weekend, leaving him unavailable for the Black Stars’ crucial encounters with Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia.
The 35-year-old arrived at the Black Stars camp on Monday night as scheduled, but subsequent medical examinations confirmed that he would not be fit to feature in either match.
Ghana’s medical team reportedly assessed the injury after his arrival and ruled him out of both qualifiers, dealing a blow to head coach Carlos Queiroz ahead of the start of the campaign.
The Black Stars are scheduled to open their qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
They will then return to Accra, where they are expected to host Gambia on Tuesday, September 29, as they continue their bid to secure qualification for the 2027 AFCON.
