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Blow for Ghana as key defender Baba is ruled out of rest of Afcon

Ghana's defender Baba Rahman is carried off the pitch during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Ghana and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 17, 2017. Justin TALLIS / AFP
Ghana's defender Baba Rahman is carried off the pitch during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Ghana and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 17, 2017. Justin TALLIS / AFP

Ghana defender Abdul Rahman Baba has left the team's Africa Cup of Nations base in Port-Gentil and faces a potentially lengthy absence after suffering a serious-looking knee injury against Uganda on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old left-back was forced off in the first half of the Black Stars' opening Group D game in Port-Gentil, which they won 1-0 thanks to an Andre Ayew penalty.

A Ghana FA statement on Thursday confirmed the player, who is currently on loan at Bundesliga side Schalke from Chelsea, would travel to Germany "to undergo further tests and possible surgery."

Tests in Gabon's capital Libreville on Wednesday confirmed that Baba had suffered "a rupture of the meniscus and a particular tear of the anterior cruciate ligament with fluid collection in the left knee."

Avram Grant's side face Mali in their second group game in Port-Gentil on Saturday knowing a win will take them through to the quarter-finals.

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