Sorrows come not as single spies but as battalions, is one of the many everlasting lines delivered by English playwright William Shakespeare in his legendary collection of works.
While there are several facets of Shakespeare’s works that could be used to describe the current state of Ghana football, the aforementioned line is the best fit when describing what is happening to the Black Stars.
Ahead of crucial 2027 AFCON qualification games against Cote D’Ivoire and The Gambia later this month, the members of the team are far from set due to mass withdrawal of players. The rate of attrition is so high that by the time you are done reading this piece, another report of a withdrawal is likely to be announced.
Players not honouring call ups to national teams is as common as rainfall in England but when it comes at such a high level to several key players, there is a major cause for concern.
Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus pulled out of the team after making the squad while Thomas Partey and Kamaldeen Sulemana were excused as they recover from injuries.
Partey is the Black Stars first vice captain and the main captain of the team, Jordan Ayew has also withdrawn from the squad to a knee injury that was flagged after the Sheffield United player had a scan in the Black Stars camp.
Despite having scored just two goals in 28 games that spanned two FIFA World Cups, the 2023 AFCON and multiple qualification games, the recently retired Inaki Williams would have been super welcomed to this set up. As far as retirement goes, Williams could easily over turn his decision to end his international career and give Ghana the ultimate thank you gift by un-retiring to help the motherland out in this international window before retiring for good.
Many observers have unsurprisingly reacted to the development surrounding the Black Stars with some even insinuating that such high absences are down to players’ lack of interest to play in Carlos Queiroz’s boring system. Others have even taken a more extreme stance by claiming that Jordan Ayew is the reason why players like Semenyo have excelled at club level but struggle mightily for the Black Stars hence Semenyo’s hesitance to honour the Black Stars call.
To highlight Semenyo’s sharp contrast in form for club and country, the Manchester City forward has two goals and three assists (five goal contributions) in five league games this season minus his 17 goal and four assists record in 37 games last season but has mustered just three goals and an assist (four goal contributions) in 38 games for the Black Stars.
Honestly, the reactions to the Black Stars withdrawals have been over the top even if Ghana is taking on a better team in Cote D’Ivoire away from home. Like all countries coming out of competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, withdrawals have become a common sight with England having five players withdraw from their squad due to injuries. Federico Valverde played out the entire duration of Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid but has withdrawn from Uruguay’s squad with the same ankle issue Semenyo is dealing with.
Completing an intense World Cup and jumping right into club football competition just three weeks after puts enormous stress on players so it shouldn’t be surprising to have Semenyo and Jordan Ayew suffer from this after playing heavy minutes at the World Cup.
Even teams that didn’t compete at the World Cup have had key players withdraw from the upcoming international games with Slovenia’s best player, Benjamin Sesko and Nigeria’s best player Victor Osimhen suffering a similar fate. Injured Amad Diallo, Wilfried Singo, Simon Adingra will miss Cote D’Ivoire’s tie against Ghana while Gambia’s best player Yankuba Minteh’s injury keeps him out till November.
There is also the bit about players withdrawing from the Black Stars due to recovery timelines not corresponding with the international window timeline. Despite playing four league games and a Carabao Cup game this season, Mo Kudus’ withdrawal is down to a clear lack of sharpness.
Alidu Seidu played at the World Cup but hasn’t featured in any game this season after officially joining OGC Nice on September 18 from Stade Rennais and like Kudus, lacks match sharpness to deal with testing weather conditions in the AFCON qualifiers aside the dreadful pitch at the Accra Sports Stadium against Gambia.
While there is major chaos surrounding the Black Stars, it creates ample opportunity for Carlos Queiroz to be forced to play largely untested players which is something he isn’t particularly enthused about at least per what he said at his press conference on Founder’s Day.
For a man who stated clearly that he preferred playing experienced players over unproven ones, missing out on veterans like Jordan Ayew, Semenyo and Seidu is exactly the chance guys like Augustine Boakye, Rahim Ibrahim and Mohammed Fuseini need to breathe badly needed fresh air into this stale Black Stars team.
Many folks cried, called for his exit and flat-out cussed Jordan Ayew when he registered no shot attempt in four matches at this year’s World Cup.
In fact, many called for Jordan Ayew to exit the Black Stars after the 2023 AFCON but the opportunity has finally arrived for the future to take over so there should be no room for consternation but rather excitement for the many possibilities this new generation of players could offer.
At his first presser since his re-appointment as Black Stars head coach, Carlos Queiroz pointed out the need for Ghana’s success to be built beyond a core group of players moving forward and in an interesting twist of fate, what was considered a long-term possibility is now a reality galloping towards September 24 and September 29 and Ghana should embrace this silver lining.
