Lorient defender Nathaniel Adjei made his long-awaited debut for the Black Stars on Monday, but the 22-year-old’s first appearance for Ghana was marred by injury.
Adjei, who started in defense during Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Niger in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, was forced off the field after just 40 minutes due to a suspected ankle injury.
The match, held at the Accra Sports Stadium, marked the end of a dismal qualifying campaign for the Black Stars, who failed to win a single match and finished bottom of Group F.
Adjei’s early substitution compounded the team’s struggles, as coach Otto Addo had already fielded a heavily altered lineup, featuring five debutants. Despite the setback, there were a few positives for Ghana, including 17-year-old Jerry Afriyie’s debut goal, which briefly equalized the score. However, Niger’s Oumar Sako scored a late header to seal the win, and Mohammed Kudus missed a last-minute penalty that could have salvaged a draw.
Adjei’s injury will be a concern for both the player and his club, Lorient, but he will hope to recover quickly and continue his development in the Black Stars setup despite the challenging start.
