Why Alexander Djiku's injury is a major World Cup blow for Ghana

The confirmation that Alexander Djiku will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup has dealt Ghana a significant setback, depriving the Black Stars of one-half of their most trusted central defensive partnership ahead of the tournament.

Coach Carlos Queiroz confirmed on Monday that the experienced defender has been ruled out through injury and replaced in the squad, leaving Ghana with a major challenge at the heart of defence.

Djiku's absence is particularly damaging because Mohammed Salisu, the centre-back with whom he formed Ghana's preferred partnership over the last few years, is also unavailable after suffering an ACL injury during the club season.

The double blow means Ghana will head to the World Cup without the defensive duo that helped guide the team through much of their recent qualification campaign.

The absence of both defenders is particularly significant given their importance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Djiku and Salisu played every minute of Ghana's three group-stage matches against Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay, establishing themselves as the Black Stars' first-choice central defensive partnership.

Four years later, there were expectations that the duo would arrive at the 2026 tournament with greater experience and leadership, providing the foundation for Ghana's defence. Instead, injuries have ruled both players out, forcing coach Carlos Queiroz to rebuild the heart of his backline on the eve of the World Cup.

Djiku and Salisu brought a combination of experience, physicality and understanding that made them the first-choice pairing whenever both players were fit and available. Their partnership provided stability at the back and allowed Ghana to compete against some of the strongest teams on the continent.

The loss of Djiku is especially concerning given his leadership qualities and versatility. The Spartak Moscow defender has regularly marshalled Ghana's backline and has been one of the team's most dependable performers in major matches.

With both Djiku and Salisu unavailable, Queiroz is now expected to rely on alternatives such as Abdul Mumin, Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Alidu Seidu, and potentially the incoming replacement, Derrick Luckassen.

While those defenders possess quality and potential, none have spent as much time together in Ghana's defence as Djiku and Salisu.

The timing of the injuries is also far from ideal. Ghana are preparing to face Panama, England and Croatia in Group L, where defensive organisation will be crucial if the Black Stars are to progress beyond the group stage.

For Queiroz, rebuilding a new centre-back partnership in the final days before the World Cup may prove one of the biggest challenges of Ghana's campaign.