Ghana’s hopes of fielding one of their key defenders at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a major setback after Black Stars team doctor Dr Prince Pambo confirmed that Mohammed Salisu will miss the tournament due to a serious knee injury.
The 26-year-old centre-back has been ruled out after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury earlier this year.
Salisu, who plays club football for AS Monaco, picked up the injury during a league clash against Olympique Lyonnais in January.
The defender subsequently underwent successful surgery and has since begun gym-based rehabilitation as part of his recovery process in France.
Following a detailed medical assessment, Dr Pambo disclosed that Salisu would require a minimum of nine months to fully recover from the ACL tear, effectively ending his chances of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “Mohammed Salisu will miss the World Cup; his knee injury requires nine months to recover,” Dr Pambo said in an interview with Asempa FM.
The absence of Salisu is a significant blow to Ghana’s defensive setup, given his experience and composure at the back. His leadership and aerial presence have been crucial for the Black Stars in recent international fixtures, and his unavailability will force head coach Otto Addo to rethink his defensive options ahead of the global showpiece.
Meanwhile, Dr Pambo also provided an encouraging update on midfielder Francis Abu, who suffered a severe ankle injury during Ghana’s Kirin Cup encounter against Japan in November. According to the team doctor, Abu was initially expected to be sidelined for five to six months after surgery but is responding positively to treatment and rehabilitation.
