Monaco’s center-back, Mohammed Salisu, will not suit up for Ghana’s Black Stars as they battle Angola and Niger in their final chance to secure a spot at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Salisu, who sustained a muscle injury against Sudan in October, has missed several matches with Monaco, and his recovery timeline excludes him from Ghana’s squad for this month’s decisive fixtures.

The absence of the 25-year-old defender comes at a critical time for Ghana. Currently on the brink of missing out on the AFCON for the first time in two decades, the Black Stars are third in their qualifying group after a rough run. With just two points from four matches, they lag behind Angola and Sudan, needing to win both upcoming matches to stand any chance of qualification. Ghana faces Angola in Luanda on November 15, then hosts Niger on November 18 in Accra. For qualification, they must also hope Sudan slips up in their final two games.

The exclusion of Salisu from Ghana’s 25-man squad is a blow to coach Otto Addo’s plans as the team looks to overcome mounting challenges to secure a place in the AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco.