Medical team agreed to excuse Williams and Thomas-Asante – GFA clarifies – Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results

Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director Henry Asante Twum has clarified the circumstances surrounding the withdrawals of Iñaki Williams and Brandon Thomas-Asante from the Black Stars’ friendlies against Austria and Germany.

The two attackers had to pull out of Otto Addo’s squad due to fitness issues.

Asante Twum explains that the decision was made collaboratively by the medical and technical teams.

Speaking to Citi Sports, Asante Twum detailed the process that led to both forwards being ruled out after their respective clubs notified Ghana’s medical department of potential injuries.

“So this is normal. Once the squad is made, the players normally have one game to play before they move to come. So, Brandon and Iñaki, immediately after they played their games on Sunday, their clubs contacted the medical department of the team. And then they notified us with possible withdrawals,” he said.

Coventry City provided scans for Thomas-Asante, who played 62 minutes in their 3-0 win over Swansea City before being substituted with a knock. For Williams, who played the full 90 minutes for Athletic Bilbao, the club revealed that he had played through pain in the final 20 minutes.

“Normally what happens is that there is a process—they must furnish us with details of the injury, and then we also make a decision. First of all, Coventry sent us scans for Brandon Thomas-Asante, who played 62 minutes. So the medical department had a meeting with the technical team, and the decision was that we excuse him from the game,” Asante Twum explained.

“Even though Iñaki played the entire duration of their match, they also notified us that he actually played through pain in the last 20 minutes.”

With both players unavailable, Ghana called up Hamburg forward Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer as a late replacement. He arrived in Vienna late Monday night and has trained with the squad ahead of Friday’s friendly against Austria.

Ghana face Austria on March 27 before taking on Germany in Stuttgart three days later in crucial World Cup preparation matches.