‘Ghana and Leicester City have decided to give Fatawu Issahaku time to recover well’  – Henry Asante Twum

Issahaku missed most of the 2024-25 season for Leicester City in the Premier League after suffering a serious ACL.

The communication director of the Ghana Football Association has revealed why Leicester City’s Fatawu Issahaku is missing in Otto Addo’s squad for Ghana’s crucial games against Chad and Mali in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to the press about Fatawu, Twum said, “First of all, when players return from injury, there is always that discussion between the medics from their clubs and that of the team[Black Stars].

“The medical teams from Ghana and Leicester City have had extensive discussions about the player and have decided to give him time.

“At the end of the day, after the analysis and the consultations, the two participants who made the best decision are to leave him out for now, allow him to get back and get to his full level and then we will bring him back later.

“The discussion that the medical team of the Black Stars had with the Leicester City team was to tread cautiously because he[Fatawu] was out for a long spell. And then also one of the very difficult injuries for footballers, ACL.

“Otto Addo and his team are pleased to see him back in action. However, given the circumstances surrounding his long layoff, they are cautious about rushing his return.

“Another reason is that the Turf we will be playing in N’Djamena is an Astro Turf, so it will also be another problem to put a player who just returned from an ACL on that particular pitch.” Asante Twum concluded.

Issahaku won the three points for Leicester City when they visited Charlton in the Championship in week three, where he scored a wonderful goal.

The youngster looked so sharp and fit, but Ghana and Leicester reached an agreement to let the boy remain in the UK during the first international break of the new season.

Ghana, in rounds seven and eight in the World Cup qualifiers, will face Chad and Mali, where wins will put them on the brink of qualification.

Fatawu Issahaku is expected to be back in the October international break, where Ghana will conclude their qualifiers.