Muntari Injury Blow – To Miss Nations Cup Qualifiers

Sule Muntari underwent emergency surgery Wednesday. Ghana’s preparation for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations suffered a big blow after acting Black Stars captain Sulley Ali Muntari was ruled out of football for the next six months after undergoing surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament last Wednesday. He even risks missing the tournament in South Africa if Ghana qualifies.

Muntari picked up the injury Monday evening while featuring in a traditional exhibition match played by Europe-based stars when on holidays.

The 27-year-old AC Milan player landed awkwardly after going in for a tackle on his Black Stars teammate Christian Atsu.

He underwent successful surgery performed by professor Schonhuber, who was assisted by AC Milan doctor Stefano Mazzoni, at La Madonnina clinic in Milan last Wednesday.

A statement by AC Milan on their website said: ‘Muntari underwent surgery for the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

‘The recovery time is around five to six months, excluding complications.’

Muntari’s recommended six-month layoff will deprive Ghana coach Kwasi Appiah of an influential player in his team which is already missing some key players like Asamoah Gyan and Michael Essien, both of whom have taken a break from international duties, general captain John Mensah (currently recovering from injury) and some other experienced players.

It means he will be out of Ghana’s two Nations Cup qualifiers against yet-to-be-determined opponents in September and October.

CAF will hold draws for the final qualifiers on July 5 in Johannesburg, with the 14 winners of the preliminary round qualifiers going into the hat with the 16 finalists from the 2012 Nations Cup.

The final qualifiers will be played over two legs on September 7-9 and October 12-14.