ACL injuries are every footballer’s nightmare; long, draining, and cruelly timed. For Ghana, last season felt like a wave of misfortune.
Alidu Seidu, Fatawu Issahaku, Ernest Nuamah, Abdul Mumin and Baba Iddrisu all suffered the dreaded injury, leaving a trail of frustrated talent on the sidelines.
For Seidu, the months that followed were the toughest of his young career. “The ACL process is very difficult and it’s all in the head, your mentality, how you cope with the injury,” he told Flashscore in an interview facilitated by Ligue 1.
“With the support of my teammates, the staff, my family and the fans, they gave me the energy to work harder. That made the rehab very smooth.”
The road back was gruelling. Hours in the gym rebuilding lost muscle, endless cardio, and the slow return to basic ball work tested both body and mind.
“When you get ACL you lose everything, your thighs become skinny. The toughest period was the gym and cardio, but I knew this was the process I had to pass through to be back,” he recalled.
That long-awaited return finally came against Lorient. Even though Rennes were thrashed 4-0, stepping on the pitch was an emotional victory. “The moment I stepped on the pitch, I was so happy. The ACL was my biggest and longest injury. Coming back was crazy and weird at the same time, but I was just waiting for this day.”
He featured again against Lyon and then truly announced his return with a man-of-the-match performance against Nantes, providing an assist and showing flashes of the tenacity that made him a fan favourite before the injury.
“My goal is to get a lot of minutes, to give everything so Rennes can qualify for Europe. I’m convinced this season we can do good things,” he said with renewed confidence.
New coach
Working under new coach Habib Beye has added to that optimism. The former Marseille and Aston Villa defender was recently appointed and has brought a fresh approach.
“So far it’s been a very good vibe. He came with big ambition and the training is intense. For me, it’s a privilege to work with him because he’s experienced as a player and now he’s giving us that experience on the pitch.”
Seidu has also been encouraged by fellow Ghanaian Fatawu Issahaku, who returned from an ACL of his own and has started the Championship season flying for Leicester City.
“It’s always a good feeling to see your friend come back stronger. I always talk with him and I’m very happy. We Ghanaians and all the players in the national team are happy to see Fatawu showing his strength again,” he said.
He also spared a word for Ernest Nuamah, still in the process of recovery, wishing him well.
The Ghanaian presence in Ligue 1 is stronger than ever, with Seidu joined by Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Salis Abdul Samed (Nice), Francis Abu (Toulouse), Kojo Peprah Oppong (Nice), Terry Yegbe (Metz), Ibrahim Osman (Auxerre), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Mohammed Salisu (Monaco), and Nathaniel Adjei (Lorient).
“This is very good for us because Ligue 1 is one of the biggest leagues in the world. Seeing more Ghanaians here makes me proud. It shows we have the quality to compete at the highest level,” he said.
While sidelined, Seidu kept a close eye on Ghana’s World Cup qualifiers, celebrating the 2-1 win over Mali and the gritty draw against Chad. “I supported the Black Stars from afar. I was very happy when we beat Mali because they are a strong team with big talents. I hope to join the group as fast as possible for the last two matches.”
The October double-header against Central African Republic and Comoros could see his international comeback. “Representing the national team is a very big achievement. If I’m able to join the group in October, I’ll give everything and die for the team. That’s my target,” Seidu affirmed.
For him, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is non-negotiable. “We all know Ghana is a big football nation. Missing AFCON was a disappointment, not only for Ghanaians but even for other players who couldn’t believe it. We must qualify for the World Cup. This team has many young players, so we need patience. In a few years, we’ll be very strong and difficult to beat.”
After a long and lonely battle against injury, Seidu is back hungrier, sharper, and determined to make up for lost time. Both Rennes and Ghana will hope his resilience now inspires the next chapter of his career.
