AFCON 2025Q: Joseph Paintsil out of Black Stars game against Niger

The Black Stars will be without Joseph Paintsil for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Niger on Monday.

According to head coach Otto Addo, Painstil faces issues with his US work permit and has been given the go-ahead to visit the embassy to resolve the issues.

Painstil came off the bench during Ghana’s opening game of the qualifiers against Angola last weekend and was expected to be involved in the clash with Niger.

However, the LA Galaxy forward was not part of the team that travelled to Morocco for the second group game, joining Jerome Opoku has also been ruled out.

“He [Jerome Opoku] will be out for this game. Also, Joseph Painstil, there is some issue with his work permit for the US,” said Addo.

“For that, he has to go to the US Embassy. The procedure takes some days. We needed his passport when he wanted to come to Morocco. We couldn’t take him there. We were hoping he would finish everything fast at the US Embassy. But, like I said, I think it takes more than three, four, five days. He had to do it because otherwise, he couldn’t return to his club in the US. So, both of them will not be available.”

The Black Stars are hoping to bounce back to winning ways against Niger with kickoff in Berkane set for 15:00 GMT.