Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has revealed that defender Jerome Opoku’s back injury was aggravated by the subpar pitch conditions at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Opoku, who was an unused substitute during Ghana’s 1-0 loss to Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers last Thursday, has been ruled out of the team’s upcoming game against Niger. His injury, sustained during training, worsened, forcing him to miss the crucial Group F clash.
Addo expressed his frustration with the situation, explaining that the central defender was unable to recover in time due to the severity of his back problem, which was exacerbated by the pitch.
“We had some issues with minor injuries, but most players are okay except for Jerome, who had serious back problems,” Addo said. “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.”
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In addition to Opoku’s absence, forward Joseph Paintsil was dropped from the squad due to passport issues, further complicating the team’s preparations. The Black Stars will now head into their second Group F match against Niger without two key players.
The match against Niger will take place at the Stade Municipal Berkane in Morocco, with kick-off set for 16:00 GMT. Ghana will be looking to bounce back after their disappointing loss to Angola and claim their first points in the qualifiers.
