GFA blames Black Stars defender's injury on Baba Yara pitch

Turkey-based defender Jerome Opoku has been ruled out of the Black Stars' crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger due to an injury. 

The towering 1.97-metre defender, who plays for İstanbul Başakşehir, reported severe discomfort in his left gluteal muscles to the team's medical staff.

The GFA believes the injury was aggravated by training on a substandard pitch in Kumasi, leading to his withdrawal from the squad.

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"The player reported to the medical team a deep-seated pain within his left gluteal muscles and further examination confirmed that the pain got aggravated by the poor pitch on which he trained in Kumasi," the GFA said in a statement.

Opoku will return to Turkey for treatment, where he will undergo injections under ultrasound guidance, as he aims to recover in time for his club's next match in the Turkish Süper Lig.

This development leaves Black Stars head coach Otto Addo with 22 players as the team prepares to face Niger on Monday in their second match of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. 

Opoku was an unused substitute in Ghana's 1-0 loss to Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Thursday.