Japan Veteran Toshihiro Aoyama Ruled Out of Ghana Friendly and 2018 FIFA World Cup Due to Knee Injury

Japan will be without the services of injured defensive midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama against Ghana on 30 May in the pre-2018 FIFA World Cup friendly on home soil.

The Japan Football Association has also confirmed the Sanfrecce Hiroshima player has also been ruled out of the World Cup because of a right knee injury.

Aoyama, who complained of knee pain following Sanfrecce’s 2-0 loss to Cerezo Osaka on May 20, pulled out of the running for the tournament after undergoing an examination at a Chiba Prefecture hospital.

The 32-year-old was set to return to international duties for the first time in roughly three years after being recalled for the Ghana friendly.

Aoyama was a member of the Samurai Blue squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Source: Ghanasoccernet