By: Belinda Nketia
Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu will not feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury, team doctor Dr. Prince Pambo has confirmed.
The AS Monaco centre-back sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a league match in January. Following surgery in France, medical evaluations indicate the 26-year-old will require at least nine months to fully recover effectively. This revelation ends Salish’s chances of making the tournament squad.
The news comes as a significant setback for the Black Stars, who are less than four months away from the World Cup kickoff. Salisu has been one of Ghana’s most consistent defensive performers in recent years, and his absence leaves a major gap in central defense heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Dr. Pambo said Salisu has begun rehabilitation but will not be ready in time for the tournament.
The team doctor also provided an update on midfielder Francis Abu, who sustained a severe ankle injury during Ghana’s Kirin Cup fixture against Japan in November. Abu was initially expected to be sidelined for five to six months following surgery but is reportedly responding well to treatment.
With just 119 days until kickoff, Ghana now faces mounting injury worries. Several key players have struggled with fitness issues in recent months.
The Black Stars are drawn in Group L, where they will face Panama in their opening match before taking on England and Croatia. Preparations are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, with international friendlies scheduled as part of final buildup plans.
Head coach Otto Addo is set to name his final squad on June 1, with medical updates likely to play a decisive role in selection.
For Ghana, the race against time has already begun and the loss of Salisu is a blow the team will now have to absorb as it prepares for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
