Ghana captain John Mensah will sit out Wednesday's final Group D match against Guinea at the Nations Cup, GHANAsoccernet.com can confirm.
The centre-back failed to win the fitness battle after picking up a thigh injury in the Black Stars opener against Botswana last week.
Mensah had a separate training session with the team's physiotherapists while the rest of his team played a half-pitched match supervised by head coach Goran Stevanovic.
In his absence, back-from-suspension Isaac Vorsah will step in to partner rookie John Boye at the heart of Ghana's defence.
"We have checked his progress and wouldn't like to risk him in the match so he is unfit to play," a member of the technical team told GHANAsoccernet.com.
Mensah suffered contusion (bruise due to damage to issues) and should be available for if Ghana progess to the quarter-final.
Ghana need a draw to top Group D after winning their opening two matches against Botswana and Mali.