Orland Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori is out of Ghana squad to face South Africa after failing to recover in time for the game.
The 27 year old was stretchered off after pulling a muscle in the 15th minute of their CAF Confederation Cup game against ES Setif at the Accra Sports Stadium.
It was later revealed the injury was not serious and he could be back in time for Ghana’s double header.
This will mean that Ghana national team head coach CK Akonnor will rely heavily on Razak Abalora, Eric Ofori Antwi and young Danlad Ibrahim.
Already, newly-invited Kamal Sowah, Kasim Adams and Baba Iddrisu have been declared unavailable for the game.
Sowah received his first international call-up from Ghana last week for the crucial qualifiers against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe set for March 25 and 28 respectively.
On Sunday, the Leicester City-owned versatile attacker – who has featured in every league game at loan club OH Leuven – provided two assists in their 2-2 draw away to KV Mechelen.
But the 21-year-old would be unable to link up with his national team colleagues for the first time.
Centre-back Kasim Adams would not be released by German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim after failing to make the squad for their home defeat to Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Also, Real Mallorca midfielder Baba Idrissu is not linking up with the Black Stars squad and is believed to have been blocked by his club. He played 90 minutes in their 0-0 draw with Real Oviedo in the Spanish second-tier on Saturday.
Earlier, Vitoria Guimaraes left-back Gideon Mensah also withdrew from the squad due to a knee injury while Hamburg SV centre-back Stephan Ambrosius picked a German U-21s outing over a senior international outing with Ghana.
Local trio – Mubarick Yussif, Joseph Adjei and Imoro Ibrahim – have been drafted into the Black Stars squad ahead of the trip to South Africa.
Ghana needs at least three points from the two games to qualify for the next edition of the AFCON.
The Black Stars play away to South Africa on March 25 and against Sao Tome on March 28.
