Accra, June 20, GNA - Black Stars injured goalkeeper, Sammy Adjei is to remain in South Africa for the next three weeks to undergo surgery to correct an ankle defect at the Johannesburg-based Morning Side Hospital. The decision was based on the recommendations of Dr. Martin Engmann, the team's physician.

Dr. Engmann's anticipation of an early recovery, which forced him to initially place the player's leg in a cast, was not enough to enable Adjei pass a late fitness test for the duel against the South Africans in the World Cup qualifier on Saturday. The GNA Sports can confirm that Dr. Boper, a German surgeon would work on the Accra Hearts of Oak's number one goalie during the period. The player who picked the injury during the Black Stars training tour in Kenya that served as a build up towards their crucial World Cup qualifier against the Bafana Bafana would therefore not be part of the contingent of the Black Stars that would be arriving in Accra later in the day.

Adjei's injury forced coach Ratomir Djukovic to send home an SOS massage for George Owu as his replacement. The goalie has remained the obvious choice for the national team since the qualifiers began exactly a year ago, with last Sunday being his second miss. He is however expected to regain fitness by the time the competition resumes in October this year.