Black Stars Coach, Charles Kwabla Akonnor has been dealt a huge blow in the build-up to Matchday 2 of the ongoing 2022 World Cup Qualifiers as his side will be without seven players who featured in the opening game against Ethiopia.

The Black Stars, who are seeking to make a return to the Global showpiece which will take place in 2022, began their qualification campaign with a 1-0 victory against Ethiopia kind courtesy of a Mubarak Wakaso screamer.

The victory places Ghana at the top of Group G and the team will be hoping to maintain the top spot when they come up against South Africa on Monday afternoon.

Coach Akonnor will however have a herculean task on his hands as he will be sending a depleted team to Johannesburg due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Black Stars team heading to the rainbow nation will be without seven players who featured in last Friday’s encounter against Ethiopia.

The seven players who will be absent from the squad heading to Johannesburg include England-based quintet – Jordan Ayew, Baba Rahman, Daniel Amartey, Andy Yiadom, and injured Jeffery Schlupp as well as Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana and German-based attacker Daniel Kofi Kyereh.

The absence of these players would mean that Coach Charles Akonnor could have a selection headache as he seeks to replace his key men.

Ghana will face South Africa on Monday afternoon at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg and kickoff for the game is set at 4 pm GMT.