Black Stars defender Mohamed Salisu has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury, according to team doctor Dr Prince Pambo.
The AS Monaco centre-back sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a league clash against Olympique Lyonnais in January. The 26-year-old has since undergone successful surgery and has started gym-based rehabilitation as part of his recovery process.
However, following a medical evaluation in France, Dr Pambo confirmed that Salisu will need at least nine months to regain full fitness, effectively ending his chances of featuring at the global tournament.
“Mohammed Salisu will miss the World Cup; his knee injury requires nine months to recover,” Dr Pambo told Asempa FM.
In a related update, the team doctor also spoke about midfielder Francis Abu, who suffered a serious ankle injury during Ghana’s Kirin Cup match against Japan in November.
“Francis Abu was expected to recover five to six months after surgery, but he is responding well to treatment,” Dr Pambo added.
Ghana will begin their Group L campaign at the World Cup against Panama, before facing England and Croatia in their remaining group matches.
As part of preparations for the tournament, the Black Stars are expected to regroup in March for international friendlies against Austria and Germany, while head coach Otto Addo is set to name his final squad for the competition on June 1.
