Turkey-based defender Jerome Opoku has been ruled out of Ghana's upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger due to an injury.

The player reported to the medical team a deep seated pain within his left gluteal muscles and further examination confirmed that the pain got aggravated by the poor pitch on which he trained in Kumasi.

Jerome will therefore travel to Turkey to receive injections under ultrasound guidance following discussions with his club as he races against time to be fully fit for their next assignment in the Turkish Super Lig.

This leaves Otto Addo with 22 players ahead of the game against Niger on Monday. Jerome Opoku was an unused substitute in last Thursday’s game against Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

Joseph Paintsil was also unable to travel with the Black Stars to Morocco after encountering passport issues, forcing him to miss the important match.

Paintsil, came on in the 82nd minute to replace Auxerre midfielder Elisha Owusu in Ghana’s defeat to Angola.

The Black Stars will aim to bounce back from the defeat as they face Niger’s Menas in the second round of the AFCON qualifiers at the RS Berkane Stadium.