Black Stars team manager Ameenu Shardow has strongly dismissed suggestions that some national team players deliberately feign injuries to avoid participating in international friendlies and AFCON qualifying matches.
His comments come in the wake of Ghana’s recent defeats to Japan and South Korea, matches in which several key players were unavailable due to reported injuries.
Speaking on Sporty FM, Shardow urged Ghanaians to rely on verified information from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) rather than speculation circulating on social media. He emphasised that all injury updates released by the GFA are based on medical facts.
“When the GFA puts out official information that a player is injured, do not doubt us at all. Because these things are science,” he stated firmly.
The conversation around injury concerns intensified after Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, and Alexander Djiku were absent from the national team lineup during the November international window. Their absence drew criticism from some fans who questioned the authenticity of the injury reports, especially given the timing of the matches.
Shardow insisted that the doubts are unfounded and unfair to the players, medical staff, and technical team who work tirelessly to ensure transparency and accuracy.
His remarks reinforce earlier statements by Black Stars head coach Otto Addo, who outlined the challenges encountered in assembling a full squad ahead of Ghana’s 1–0 loss to South Korea.
“We were facing some difficulties through some injured players,” Addo said, noting that the absences of Francis Abu, Mohammed Salisu, and Antoine Semenyo significantly affected preparations.
Francis Abu, who put up an impressive showing against Japan, sustained a serious injury after fracturing two bones during the match, requiring immediate surgery. Mohammed Salisu and Antoine Semenyo also picked up injuries that saw them return to their respective clubs for further assessment and rehabilitation.
Addo further revealed that logistics issues, including visa complications, hindered his ability to call up timely replacements for the sidelined players, adding another layer of difficulty to Ghana’s already strained squad.
The recent defeats—2-0 to Japan and 1-0 to South Korea—have sparked conversations about the Black Stars’ readiness ahead of upcoming competitions. However, the technical team remains confident in their rebuilding process and is urging fans to remain patient and trust the system.
Shardow’s comments aim to restore confidence between the national team and supporters, emphasising that injury updates are purely medical and not influenced by player reluctance or club pressure.
As the Black Stars prepare for the next phase of fixtures, the GFA is expected to provide further updates on player recovery timelines and squad readiness.
