Players of the Black Stars ahead of a game
Ghana’s preparations for the much-anticipated Unity Cup showdown against Nigeria could be hampered by the absence of several key players due to injuries and club commitments, according to Black Stars Management Committee chairman, Dr. Randy Abbey.
The Black Stars will begin preparations for the four-nation tournament on Sunday, May 25, ahead of their match against long-time rivals Nigeria on May 28 in London.
The Unity Cup also features Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, forming part of Ghana’s broader build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for September and October.
However, in an interview with 3Sports, Dr. Abbey revealed that the team may be forced to do without a number of its top talents.
“There are quite a number of players who are injured. There are a few players who are also engaged in qualifying games for Europe, and so their clubs won’t release them. Mind you, this period is outside the FIFA free period,” he said.
He further revealed that in addition to those unavailable due to club commitments, several injured players can’t participate.
“And so, for those whose leagues will still be in session, and they are still in contention, they might not be available, plus the injured players,” he added.
With the match falling outside FIFA’s official international window, clubs are under no obligation to release their players, a challenge that could heavily impact the strength and cohesion of the squad Head Coach Otto Addo is able to assemble for the clash.
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