BY ISSAH OLEGOR
Ghana have suffered a major injury scare ahead of their crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Somalia, with winger Ernest Nuamah emerging as a doubt after sustaining a muscle injury at French club Lyon.
The 23-year-old attacker is currently dealing with a muscle strain that could rule him out of Ghana’s November assignments, leaving the Black Stars technical team anxiously awaiting updates on his fitness.
Ghana are scheduled to face Somalia twice this month, with the first encounter set to take place at the Essipon Stadium before the two sides meet again in the return fixture.
Nuamah’s injury concerns became apparent after he was left out of Lyon’s squad for their UEFA Europa League encounter against Real Sociedad on Thursday night.
Providing an update on the Ghanaian and teammate Moussa Niakhaté, Lyon’s interim manager, Jorge Maciel, confirmed that both players were struggling with muscle strains but expressed hope that they could recover in time for Sunday’s Ligue 1 meeting with Brest.
“They’ve suffered muscle strains,” Maciel revealed. “We hope to have them back for Sunday’s match in Brest. We’re waiting for an update; we don’t yet know if they’ll be fit or not. We’ll see how things are progressing when we return to Lyon,” he added.
Nuamah has been one of Lyon’s important attacking options since the beginning of the 2026/27 campaign, using his pace, direct running and finishing ability to make an impact across competitions.
The former FC Nordsjælland winger has made 13 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals and providing one assist. His contribution has strengthened his position as an attacking option for the French side.
His possible absence would be an unwelcome development for Ghana as the Black Stars prepare for two fixtures that could significantly influence their chances of recovering from a disappointing start to the AFCON qualifying campaign.
Ghana have struggled in Group C, losing 2-0 to neighbours Ivory Coast in Bouaké before suffering another setback against The Gambia on home soil.
Those results have left the Black Stars bottom of the group without a point, increasing the importance of the upcoming meetings with Somalia.
The technical team will therefore be hoping Nuamah’s injury is not serious and that he can recover in time to join the squad. However, his availability will depend on further medical assessments and his recovery progress at Lyon.
