Afcon 2025 qualifiers: Alexander Djiku ruled out Ghana’s games against Angola and Niger

Defender Alexander Djiku has been sidelined from Ghana’s upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Angola and Niger after sustaining an injury.

The 30-year-old Fenerbahce centre-back limped off during Friday night’s Turkish Super Lig match against Alanyaspor, picking up a thigh injury in the 61st minute.

Initial scans revealed a Grade One strain in the quadriceps of his right thigh, which will require 10 to 14 days of recovery, ruling him out of the qualifiers.

Djiku, who made his Ghana debut in October 2020 and has since earned 31 caps for the Black Stars, was named in Otto Addo’s 23-man squad for the crucial matches.

His absence brings the number of injury casualties in the squad to seven.

Before Thursday’s announcement, six other players were already ruled out due to various injuries: Patric Pfeiffer (hamstring), Abdul Samed Salis (muscle injury), Gideon Mensah (muscle tear), Ernest Nuamah (inflammation), Kamaldeen Sulemana (ankle injury), and Ibrahim Sulemana (twisted ankle).

Ghana’s Group F campaign kicks off on September 5 against Angola at Baba Yara Sports Stadium, followed by an away fixture against Niger in Berkane, Morocco on September 9.