For Black Stars midfielder Abu Francis, the months since a horror injury in Japan have been a slow, determined climb back toward the pitch. Reports suggest he is now moving in the right direction.
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The incident happened on November 14, 2025, in Ghana’s friendly against Japan. A challenge involving Japan’s Ao Tanaka left the Toulouse FC man with a double fracture of the right tibia and fibula. He couldn’t continue and was carried off on a stretcher.
Surgery in Japan followed and went well. From there, Francis began an intensive rehabilitation programme backed by Toulouse and the Ghana Football Association (GFA). The injury threatened to stall momentum at both club and country, so his progress has been watched closely ever since.
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Reports said he was back in the gym, the first real step of his rehab. In February 2026, was doing structured exercises and working towards individual sessions on the pitch. And then in March 2026, he told supporters he was feeling confident. He had started working with a ball alongside his physical trainer and was moving towards training with the team.
For Ghanaian fans waiting for his return, each update has been a lift.
Before the injury, Francis was building a reputation as a promising option in Ghana’s midfield. His absence has hurt the Black Stars, who are still weighing their choices for upcoming international assignments. Seeing him recover is welcome news for supporters who want him back at full strength and playing again.
Training with a ball is not the same as being match-ready. His return to competitive football will depend on medical assessments, how rehab goes and clearance from the medical team. The priority is a safe, complete recovery before he steps back onto the pitch.
Ghanaian supporters will be rooting for Francis to come through this difficult stretch stronger than before and carry on his journey with the Black Stars.