Black Stars coach, Otto Addo has disclosed that Jerome Opoku’s back injury was exacerbated by the subpar pitch conditions at Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Opoku, a central defender, was an unused substitute during Ghana’s 1-0 loss to Angola in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying opener last Thursday.
As the team travelled to Morocco for their next Group F match against Niger last week Friday, Joseph Paintsil was removed from the squad due to passport issues.
Meanwhile, Opoku has been ruled out of the game after failing to recover from a back injury sustained during training.
In a pre-match briefing before the clash with the Super Eagles, Addo explained the situation.
“We had some issues with minor injuries, but most players are okay except for Jerome, who had serious back problems. 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,” he added.
The Black Stars will face Niger at Stade Municipal Berkane in Morocco, with kick-off set for 16:00 GMT.
Source: Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah
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