Mohammed Salisu
Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu will not feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury, according to Black Stars team doctor Dr. Prince Pambo.
The AS Monaco centre-back picked up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a French league match against Olympique Lyonnais in January.
The setback has forced the 26-year-old into a long-term recovery programme, ruling him out of the global tournament.
Dr. Pambo confirmed that Salisu has already undergone surgery and has started light gym-based rehabilitation, but his return to full fitness will take considerable time.
After visiting the player in France, the Black Stars medical chief estimated that recovery will take about nine months.
“Mohammed Salisu will miss the World Cup; his knee injury requires nine months to recover” he said.
In a further medical update, Dr. Pambo also addressed the condition of midfielder Francis Abu, who injured his ankle during Ghana’s Kirin Cup match against Japan in November.
He noted that although Abu’s initial recovery timeline after surgery was projected at five to six months, the midfielder is progressing well under treatment.
Looking ahead, the national team is set to begin their Group L World Cup campaign against Panama, followed by matches against England and Croatia.
The Black Stars are also scheduled to regroup in March for international friendly games against Austria and Germany as preparations continue.
BY Wletsu Ransford