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Lawrence Ati-Zigi is back between the posts for Ghana’s Black Stars as they prepare for their Round of 32 World Cup showdown against Colombia. The St. Gallen goalkeeper, who limped off with a groin injury during Ghana’s tournament opener against Panama on June 17, has been cleared to start the knockout stage match after a full recovery.
The injury, the recovery, the decision
Ati-Zigi started Ghana’s group stage opener against Panama but was substituted at halftime after picking up a groin injury. Backup Benjamin Asare stepped in and held the position through the remaining group matches against England and Croatia as the Black Stars navigated their way out of the group.
Ghana’s Sports Minister Kofi Adams confirmed around July 2 that Ati-Zigi had made a full recovery. The final call on whether to start him or stick with Asare was left to head coach Carlos Queiroz.
Queiroz chose experience. Reports indicate the Portuguese tactician will slot Ati-Zigi back into the starting lineup for the Colombia match, scheduled for around July 3-4 in Kansas City. Ati-Zigi was named in Ghana’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 27, and his inclusion was seen as a straightforward selection given his status as the undisputed number one.
Why this matchup is loaded with subplots
Queiroz knows Colombia intimately. The 71-year-old coached the Colombian national team from 2019 to 2020, giving him a detailed understanding of the country’s footballing DNA, player development pipelines, and tactical tendencies.
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