Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have taken a major hit after defender Alexander Djiku was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz confirmed the development after the Spartak Moscow centre-back failed to recover in time to continue with the team’s build-up.
Djiku was initially included in Ghana’s 28-man provisional squad and reported to the team’s training camp in Cardiff. However, he arrived already nursing an injury picked up during Spartak Moscow’s Russian Cup final clash against FC Krasnodar.
The defender picked up the setback during the match, which his side eventually won on penalties, but has since been unable to train fully with the national team.
After a series of medical evaluations, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), in consultation with the technical team, opted to withdraw him from the squad to avoid worsening the injury ahead of the tournament.
To fill the void, Pafos FC defender Derrick Luckassen, who plays in Cyprus, has been drafted into camp as his replacement as Ghana reshapes its defensive setup.
Ghana will compete in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
The Black Stars begin their campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field, before taking on England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium. Their final group match will be against Croatia on June 27.
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