Ghana have been forced to make two changes to their squad to travel to Madagascar for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after defenders Alexander Djiku and Gideon Mensah were both forced out through injury.
Ghana take on their Malagasy hosts in Antananarivo on Sunday, June 18 looking to secure their place in next year’s finals in the ivory Coast.
They are at the top of Group E and victory over the already-eliminated Madagascar will ensure a top two finish and a berth at the finals.
Both players who have had to forfeit are French-based.
Djiku, 28, from Racing Strasbourg injured his ankle during a Ligue 1 match against Troyes on May 21, and has not recovered in time.
Mensah, 24, did arrive for training camp in Accra on Monday but a knee injury, which he picked up earlier in the season with relegated AJ Auxerre, forced him out of the squad.
Swiss-based defender Kasim Nuhu and Hafiz Konkoni, a striker with Bechem United, have been named as replacements.
Nuhu, also known as Kasim Adams, turns 27 next week. The 23-year-old Konkoni scored 15 goals in 26 games in Ghana’s Premier League this season and is the only locally based player in the squad.
Ghana could qualify for the Cup of Nations finals as early as Saturday if the Central African Republic beat Angola in the other group game being played in Douala.