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The Black Stars’ first-choice goalkeeper returned to light training but remains a game-time decision, while Mohammed Kudus and Alexander Djiku are already ruled out of the tournament.
Ghana’s medical team is facing a race against time to have first-choice goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi fit for the Black Stars’ crucial Group L clash against England tomorrow.
Ati-Zigi put on a spectacular first-half performance against Panama before suffering a groin injury during a collision. He was forced off at halftime and replaced by debutant Benjamin Asare. While initial fears suggested his World Cup was over, scans delivered a boost, and he returned to light training on Saturday. He is being assessed session-by-session but remains a major game-time doubt for the England showdown.
Key Takeaways
- Ghana's medical team is facing a race against time to have first-choice goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi fit for the Black Stars' crucial Group L clash against England tomorrow.
- Ati-Zigi put on a spectacular first-half performance against Panama before suffering a groin injury during a collision.
- Alexander Djiku was ruled out after picking up a serious injury with Spartak Moscow just days before the squad announcement and was replaced in the 26-man roster by Derrick Luckassen.
Benjamin Asare, who kept a clean sheet on his international debut against Panama, is on standby to start if Ati-Zigi is not passed fit.
Ghana’s tactical plans were significantly disrupted before the tournament even began. Mohammed Kudus, the West Ham playmaker, failed to recover from a severe late-season thigh ligament injury, stripping the team of its primary creative identity. Alexander Djiku was ruled out after picking up a serious injury with Spartak Moscow just days before the squad announcement and was replaced in the 26-man roster by Derrick Luckassen. Mohammed Salisu was also deemed unfit to participate due to structural physical limitations highlighted during pre-camp testing.
Veteran midfielder Thomas Partey is also missing from the World Cup squad due to ongoing visa issues in Britain.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, coach Carlos Queiroz will make a final decision on Ati-Zigi after the team’s last training session. With England looming as Ghana’s toughest group-stage test, the mounting absences have forced Queiroz to reshape his starting lineup, and the fitness of his goalkeeper remains the most pressing concern.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 22, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
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