The Black Stars B has been dealt a big blow ahead of their 2018 CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso as defender Awal Mohammed is ruled out with sickness.

The Asante Kotoko defender did not take part in the team's training session yesterday following reports that he's been down with malaria.

The news will come as major blow for head coach Maxwell Konadu but he will be adequately replaced after the late inclusion of Hearts of Oak's Vincent Atinga and Ahmed Adams of Kotoko.

Awal featured in the side's 2-2 stalemate in the first leg in Ouagadougou last Saturday.