2010 FIFA World Cup: Ghana Suffers Huge Blow After Essien Is Ruled Out
Today, Ghana's World Cup chances have taken a serious blow as star midfielder Michael Essien has officially been ruled out for the World Cup.
Essien, who is considered by some to be the best African player eligible for this World Cup, injured his hamstring back in a December 8 Champions League clash for his club Chelsea against APOEL.
After taking a month off, Essien returned prematurely to January's African Cup of Nations, which resulted in a knee injury that knocked Essien out for the rest of his domestic league season with Chelsea.
Essien still continued to rehabilitate himself in order to get fit for this World Cup, but this announcement has ended all hopes for Essien to play for the Black Stars in South Africa.
The Ghana Football Association also announced that "Essien will not make a full recovery until the end of July."
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac had been publicly optimistic but also insisted that the squad can still succeed without Essien, as "there are other young and hungry players who will be equally passionate to play."
Overall, Essien is one of the best midfielders in the world today and was a major reason why Ghana was the only African nation that was able to make the Round of 16 in the 2006 World Cup.
Ghana opens the World Cup on June 13 against Serbia at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, followed by Australia on June 18 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg and Germany on June 23 at Johannesburg's Soccer City (which will be hosting the World Cup final on July 11).
