I came close to retiring from football - Black Stars midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyereh reveals

Ghana midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh has opened up on the darkest phase of his long injury layoff, revealing that he seriously considered retiring from football during his recovery journey.

The 30-year-old has endured a difficult spell on the sidelines since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in 2022, an absence that has stretched close to three years and significantly disrupted his career momentum.

Speaking to Joy Sports, Kyereh admitted the mental toll of the setback, revealing that thoughts of retirement occasionally crept in during the toughest moments.

"To be honest, I was fighting against those thoughts (of retirement). The truth is that they came up here and there. Especially in these difficult times of setbacks."

Kyereh first underwent surgery in February 2023 to repair the ligament damage, but his recovery path was far from smooth.

Just as he neared a comeback a year later, he suffered another setback that required a second surgical procedure, further delaying his return.

"I was going two steps ahead and one back. Yeah, there were definitely times when it came to my mind, but to be honest, I was not allowing such thoughts beyond a few seconds."

After a long rehabilitation process, Kyereh returned to partial team training in late 2025 before rejoining full training in January 2026.

He has since taken positive steps in his comeback, making five appearances for SC Freiburg’s reserve side after returning to action in April 2026, as he continues his push toward full competitive football.