Two Players Withdraw from Black Stars Squad

Ghana’s Black Stars have been forced to make changes ahead of their international friendlies after two key players withdrew due to injuries.

Inaki Williams and Brandon Thomas-Asante will miss the upcoming matches against Austria and Germany after suffering knocks in their recent club games.

According to the Ghana Football Association, Williams played the full match for Athletic Bilbao in their win over Real Betis. However, medical checks after the game showed he had picked up an injury, making it unsafe for him to join the national team.

Thomas-Asante also picked up a knock while playing for Coventry City in their 3-0 victory over Swansea City. He was taken off in the 62nd minute, and further scans later confirmed that his injury was more serious than first thought.

Following their withdrawal, Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer has been called up as a replacement. The Hamburger SV forward has already arrived in Vienna and is expected to train with the squad.

Königsdörffer has been in good form this season, scoring four goals in 26 matches in the Bundesliga campaign.

Meanwhile, Antoine Semenyo has also joined the Black Stars camp after helping his club win the Carabao Cup.

The friendlies form part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Ghana is set to make its fifth appearance at the tournament, where they will face Panama, England and Croatia in Group L.