Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has revealed that defender Jerome Opoku's back injury was aggravated by the poor pitch conditions at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, forcing the player to miss Ghana's crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Niger.
Opoku, who was an unused substitute in Ghana’s 1-0 defeat to Angola in the Group F opener last Thursday, sustained a back injury during training and was unable to recover in time for the next fixture.
The injury, according to Addo, was worsened by the uneven surface at Kumasi's iconic stadium.
"We had some issues with minor injuries, but most players are okay, except for Jerome, who had serious back problems," Addo explained. "His body couldn't adapt to the training ground in Kumasi. It was tough for him, and the injury became so severe that he couldn’t continue training. He had to return to his club for specialized treatment. It's unfortunate—he didn’t play, but still got injured."
In addition to Opoku, winger Joseph Paintsil has been dropped from the squad due to passport issues as the Black Stars prepare for their second Group F match against Niger at the Stade Municipal de Berkane in Morocco. The match is scheduled to kick off at 16:00 GMT.
Despite these setbacks, Ghana will be aiming for their first win of the qualifiers after a disappointing start at home.
