The increasing number of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries this season, affecting Ghana’s top players like Fatawu Issahaku and Alidu Seidu, has been attributed to the demanding football calendar.
Black Stars team doctor, Dr. Prince Pambo, points to the heavy workload players face as a key factor in the surge of these debilitating injuries.
ACL injuries, which often require six to nine months of recovery after surgery, have sidelined several high-profile players this season. Among them are Ghana’s Issahaku, who injured his knee during a 1-1 draw against Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and Seidu, who sustained a similar injury while playing for Stade Rennais in Ligue 1. Both players have been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The rise in ACL injuries isn’t limited to Ghanaian footballers, as global stars like Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Real Madrid defenders Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal, and Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen have also been affected in 2024.
Rodri, in particular, has previously voiced concerns about the packed football calendar, citing the new Champions League format and an increased number of matches as key contributors to the growing injury crisis. Dr. Pambo echoed these concerns in a recent interview with 3Sports, emphasizing how the intensity of modern football schedules is taking a toll on players’ bodies.
“ACL injuries used to be rarer, but now the volume of games players are exposed to has quadrupled compared to previous years,” Dr. Pambo explained. “Players are now playing significantly more matches, and the physical demands have increased considerably.”
He also highlighted that the modern game’s sophistication, with players running more and engaging in more dynamic play, adds to the strain.
The rise in ACL injuries has sparked renewed discussions around player welfare, with calls for football authorities to reassess the ever-growing demands placed on athletes.
