Baba Rahman Ruled Out of 2027 AFCON Qualifiers

Experienced left-back Abdul Rahman Baba has been ruled out of the Black Stars squad after reporting for assessment in camp, with medical checks confirming he is not fit to feature in the upcoming international window.

Baba Rahman was named in Carlos Queiroz’s original 24-man squad for this crucial triple-header – an AFCON qualifier against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24, another qualifier against The Gambia in Accra on September 29, and a high-profile friendly against Morocco on October 4.

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Images circulating online showed him arriving in camp alongside Alexander Djiku and Jerome Opoku, but reports from camp indicate he has since withdrawn.

According to reports, he becomes the fourth player to pull out of Queiroz’s squad, following Mohammed Kudus, Nathaniel Adjei and Antoine Semenyo who exited just hours earlier. The Ghana Football Association is yet to officially confirm the latest withdrawal.

This September window was meant to be a fresh start under Queiroz. Instead, it’s become a test of depth.

Queiroz had already been forced to reshuffle after losing Kudus and Adjei to injury. Then Semenyo pulled out, and now Rahman. The technical team has reportedly had to add as many as nine late replacements to keep the squad competitive.

For Rahman, the timing is especially cruel. The 30-year-old PAOK defender was an unused substitute in his club’s 1-0 win over Atromitos last weekend, and his return to the national team had been eagerly anticipated.

He has previously clarified that his long absence from the Black Stars since September 2023 was not a retirement, but a personal decision to focus on his fitness after years of injury problems.