Two defenders, Isaac Vorsah and Jonathan Mensah have picked up injuries in the past few days, giving the national team's headaches new challenges ahead of the coming African Cup.

Mensah confirmed he will be out for about six weeks, after tests on Tuesday. He has been ruled out of next week’s friendly against Cape Verde because of an injury sustained playing in the Ligue 1 for Evian against Lille at the weekend.

While the 22-year-old starts his process of recovery, compatriot Isaac Vorsah will also be out for six weeks as well, having also getting a knee problem.

The two injuries will pose new problems for Kwesi Appiah, who had largely settled on the two players as integral parts of his defensive setup. There will be a race against time to get them fit and ready in time for the African Cup of Nations squad naming.

Team Ghana is likely to begin camping shortly after the Christmas break or at the start of the New Year 2013, by which time both Vorsah and Mensah will be just about convalescing. If Ghana are to do well in their title charge in South Africa, the two will likely be vital to the cause.