Ghana's Ati-Zigi to face late fitness test ahead of England clash

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ati-zigi-lawrence/MLx41pIf/"]Lawrence Ati-Zigi[/a] will face a late fitness test in the Black Stars’ final training session on Monday before head coach Carlos Queiroz makes a call on whether he is available for Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L showdown against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] in Boston.[/p][p]Ati-Zigi suffered a groin injury during Ghana’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ghana-nNBjHale/panama-OWKqbCfi/?mid=jD1Nwbif"]1-0[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] at BMO Field last Wednesday. The 29-year-old had been arguably Ghana’s best player in a tight first half, producing an early diving save to deny Cecilio Waterman at point-blank range from Amir Murillo’s low cross.[/p][embed guid="c7c3cdff-11e2-47fc-bc77-582ebfced568" url="https://x.com/Akwasi_Ayala/status/2068323647018643684?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]He picked up his problem in a heavy collision while rushing off his line to make a second intervention, landed awkwardly, and was left visibly in pain on the turf.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/st-gallen/bkxMEx1T/"]St. Gallen[/a] goalkeeper received treatment twice before the interval and tried to continue, but Queiroz and the medical team ruled him out at half-time, with Benjamin Asare introduced for the second period.[/p][p]Since the win in Toronto, Ati-Zigi has been carefully managed at the squad’s training base at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. He sat out the recovery session the morning after the Panama game entirely. On Saturday, he returned to the grass for the first time, working through a light, individual session away from the main group under the supervision of goalkeepers coach Daniel Gaspar.[/p][embed guid="2832f8f5-6a6b-4ee1-ad7c-bb1bceaaa28a" url="https://x.com/_owurakuampofo/status/2068432550431793204?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Gaspar, speaking to the media at the Black Stars’ training base, offered a cautiously optimistic update on the goalkeeper’s progress without committing to a timeline.[/p][p][b]“We’re extremely happy with his progress. It’s day-by-day, and we will take it session by session. We’re optimistic with his progress. The decision will be made at the right time.”[/b][/p][p]The veteran Portuguese-American coach, a long-time Queiroz lieutenant, was careful to frame the situation as a collective medical call, stressing that any decision will be taken in consultation with the head coach and the Black Stars’ medical staff and, ultimately, in the interest of the team rather than the individual.[/p][p]Ati-Zigi’s Sunday workload is expected to step up further as the staff looks to gauge how he responds to higher-intensity loading, which includes diving, footwork drills, and crosses under match-style pressure.[/p][embed guid="b11a53a5-5da4-445c-9462-648f1a2b443b" url="https://x.com/GhanaBlackstars/status/2068702978425446866?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Should Ati-Zigi fail to come through that final test, Benjamin Asare is in pole position to make his maiden World Cup start. The Hearts of Oak shot-stopper came on cold against Panama and produced a composed half-hour-plus, including three important saves, as Caleb Yirenkyi’s 95th-minute winner settled the contest. [/p][p]Ghana face England in their second group game at the World Cup on Tuesday, June 23rd at the Boston Stadium.[/p][image alt="Owuraku Ampofo" id="345f5fd0-6a26-4f45-8078-6462582c5da7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8f08968c-623c-4216-997d-b73dff08df57" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]