Ghana defender John Boye has withdrawn from the squad to face Egypt in the decisive 2014 World Cup playoff clash this month handing coach Kwesi Appiah a serious blow, Metro FM has reported.
Details remain sketchy but the central defender is said to have suffered an injury which require surgery, according to the Kumasi-based radio station.
The 26-year-old will thus miss the October 15 clash against Egypt – which means coach Appiah will now be without his first and second choice central defensive pair for the game in Kumasi.
Boye’s injury news comes just hours after he was named in a strong Black Stars squad.
He is the third Ghana defender to be ruled out of the match against Egypt following the likes of Isaac Vorsah and more recently Jonathan Mensah.
This aggravates the already massive injury blow to the Black Stars ahead of probably the most important match in Ghana football history.
South Africa-based Edwin Gyimah has been lined up as the express replacement for the injured Stade Rennes defender.