Ghana’s quest for double conquest over Sudan in the 2021 Afcon qualifier has been dealt a heavy blow following an injury to skipper Andre Dede Ayew.

The in-form Swansea attacker suffered a muscle strain during training and has been ruled out of Tuesday’s return leg in Sudan.

A statement issued by the Ghana Football Association says Dede Ayew “is expected to return to Swansea to undergo further tests to assess the extent of injury.”

His absence is likely to affect the attack of the Stars, who despite three successive victories, needed the maximum points in Sudan to confirm their place in Cameroon 2021.

Ayew has been in lethal form for the Stars in recent months having scored four goals in three Black Stars matches.

On Thursday, his brace consigned the Sudanese to a painful defeat in Ghana. He had already scored another brace in the 5-1 thumping of Qatar last month.

Meanwhile, Cedidollar can confirm that the senior national team left Accra on Sunday morning to Sudan for the second leg tie which will be played in Omdurman on Tuesday.