Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has wished Ghana midfielder Francis Abu a speedy recovery after the youngster suffered a serious injury during Friday’s Kirin Challenge Cup clash in Nagoya.
Speaking with genuine concern after the match, Moriyasu said, “I hope that Francis will be able to play football again as soon as possible.” The incident occurred early in the second half following a challenge from Tanaka Ao, who immediately apologised to the Ghana bench.
Moriyasu insisted the foul was without malice. “In the end, it was a foul, but it wasn’t something we did intentionally to injure him. I think we deserved to be called for the foul. Aoi is not at fault,” he explained.
The injury momentarily cast a shadow over Japan’s 2-0 victory, with both teams prioritising concern for Abu’s wellbeing above the result.
The Ghana Football Association has since confirmed that Abu is stable and undergoing further medical tests, while Toulouse have announced that the midfielder will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
