Defender Awal Mohammed will not be available for Ghana when they host Burkina Faso in the second leg of the final qualifying round to the 2018 CHAN on Sunday.
The 29-year-old centre-back has been diagnosed with malaria. He has been excused from the Black Stars ‘B’ camp for what has been pointed to be dehydration after featuring for his club Asante Kotoko in an FA Cup quarterfinals game on Wednesday.
Coach of the side, Maxwell Konadu confirmed this in an interview with Nhyira FM.
“The decision to rule Awal out “was based on the recommendations from our medical staff. They think he has been dehydrated and needs time to recover.
“So he has been permitted to go home with some medications. He has been told to take a complete rest with no activities,” the gaffer explained.
“I think if he had been rested from that match [Asante Kotoko’s FA Cup game on Wednesday], it would have helped us but his team needed him so we had no say,” Konadu stated.
Another fitness concern for the Black Stars ‘B’ has been that of experienced striker Sadick Adams who picked up what seemed to be a hamstring injury during the Kotoko game.
The former Atletico Madrid player could however be available for Ghana, it appears.
“For Sadick, he suffered a minor pull in the Kotoko game and did not want to risk further. He joined us on Thursday and now looks good to be available for Sunday. We are still monitoring his progress,” added Konadu.
Meanwhile, WAFA SC forward Daniel Lomotey has been recalled to the team, giving the technical bench more attacking options which was hitherto limited to just the pair of Sadick Adams and Felix Addo.
After drawing 2-2 in the first leg in Ouagadougou last week, Ghana needs to avoid any kind of defeat or at least draw 1-1 at the Baba Yara Stadium to advance and secure the available ticket to next year’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN) slated for Kenya.
