The Black Stars of Ghana have suffered a significant blow as 20-year-old center-back Jonas Adjetey has been ruled out of the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Angola and Niger. The FC Basel defender, who had been working his way back to full fitness after several weeks on the sidelines, encountered a setback during his club’s league game on Saturday, November 9.

Ghana’s Football Association confirmed the withdrawal in a statement, explaining that Adjetey was on the path to recovery but would be unable to join the national team due to his lack of match fitness. With the qualifiers approaching, the Black Stars’ squad will gather in Accra on Monday evening to prepare for their crucial fixtures.

The Ghanaian side faces an uphill battle in their qualifying campaign. They currently sit third in Group F with just two points from four matches, and qualification is no longer within their control. To reach the 2025 AFCON, the Black Stars must win both of their remaining games—against Angola on November 15 in Luanda and Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18—while hoping that group leaders Sudan, who hold seven points, falter in their final matches.