Ghana vs. Nigeria: Ayew’s return does not assuage Black Stars' injury woes

Ghana striker Jordan Ayew will play against Nigeria in the 2022 World Cup playoff after testing negative for coronavirus.

The Crystal Palace man will join the Black Stars in Kumasi to continue their preparations for the first meeting at the Baba Yara Stadium.

“Jordan Ayew has tested negative for Covid and will join the team later this week in Kumasi ahead of the Nigeria game,” GFA communications director Henry Asante Twum revealed on Tuesday.

Ayew has scored 18 goals in 73 appearances for the Black Stars since his debut in 2010, however, he hasn't found the net since scoring in the 3-1 win against Sao Tome and Principe on March 28, 2021.

This season, he has scored only one goal for Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

He was one of the most heavily criticised players after the Black Stars’ shock first round exit at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year in Cameroon.

But Ayew’s return does not assuage Black Stars' injuries woes.

At the last count, six players are unable to join the Black Stars squad for the 2022 World Cup playoff against Nigeria due to injuries according to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) who announced on Tuesday evening.

The GFA said Majeed Ashimeru, Antoine Semenyo, Baba Abdul Rahman, Samuel Owusu, Richmond Boakye Yiadom, and Kamaldeen Sulemana were all invited to assist Ghana to qualify for the World Cup finals in Qatar but had to be excluded due to injuries.

“Majeed Ashimeru, Antoine Semenyo, Baba Abdul Rahman, Samuel Owusu, Richmond Boakye Yiadom and Kamaldeen Sulemana were all handed call ups to the senior national team and were expected to report to camp on March 20, 2022, but failed to join the rest of the squad due to injuries at the respective club sides,” GFA wrote on their website.

“Team Doctors of the respective clubs of the players wrote and officially inform the GFA of their injury situations and confirmed their unavailability for the double-header against Nigeria.”

“The GFA will continue to communicate with team doctors of the respective clubs and monitor the recovery of the players.”

“It’s the hope of the association that injured players will recover quickly and join the senior national team for future assignments.”

Meanwhile, sources close to Ashimeru have denied that the player is injured.

This past Sunday, Ashimeru lasted the entire duration of Anderlecht's 1-0 loss to Gent in Belgian top-flight.

This comes after Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan described as 'nonsense' the Black Stars technical team's decision to exclude Majeed Ashimeru from the Black Stars squad to face Nigeria.

“This guy Majeed Ashimeru is the best midfielder in Ghana, after Thomas Parte, period. I have kept quiet on this but this nonsense must stop. Smh,” Gyan tweeted.

Gyan later deleted the tweet and apologised, but insisted that Ashiemru merited a call-up for the crucial games.

“I still insist that Ashimeru deserves to be in this current Black Stars but I am sorry for using the word “Nonsense” in my statement so I unreservedly withdraw that word, I was carried by my emotions. Go Ghana," he wrote.

After missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Ashimeru was expected back in the team owing to his impressive displays in the Belgian top-flight for Anderlecht.

Ashimeru has been the standout performer for Vincent Kompany's men in the last eight games across all competitions.

In the league, Ashimeru has been involved in three goals, scoring one and assisting two while he played a key role in Anderlecht's Belgian Cup semi-final victory over KAS Eupen.

Black Stars will take on Nigeria in the first meeting on Friday, 25 March 2022 at 7:30 pm local time.

The return leg will be played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Ghana are aiming for a fourth appearance after missing the 2018 edition in Russia, while Nigeria are hoping to qualify for a seventh.