Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka was at the centre of a horrid injury incident as his Japan side beat Ghana 2-0 on Friday.
United’s form after the international break will likely dictate whether Daniel Farke stays in his job. For now, he’ll be watching on at his players out on duty hoping for no injury problems.
Ao Tanaka was one of those several featuring for his country, starting in a friendly against Ghana on Friday morning.
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Ao Tanaka’s Japan beat Ghana 2-0 to continue preparation for 2026 World Cup
Japan are one of nine nations from Asia to have already booked their place in the 2026 World Cup. So, this international break is being used as further preparation for the tournament across the Atlantic.
United’s key midfielder started in the middle of midfield as Japan beat Ghana 2-0 in Toyota. Goals from Takumi Minamino and Ritsu Doan settled the game as Tanaka came off just after the hour mark.
|Ao Tanaka vs Ghana|
|---|---|
|Minutes played|68|
|Touches|60|
|Pass success|49/51 (96%)|
|Tackles won|2/2|
|Clearances|2|
|Recoveries|2|
Up next for Japan is another home game, this time against Bolivia in Tokyo. That game is scheduled for Tuesday morning, giving Tanaka a decent period of recovery before our home clash with Aston Villa on Sunday 23rd November.
Ao Tanaka at centre of horrific Ghana injury incident – Leeds United midfielder offers classy gesture
It wasn’t an uneventful outing in midfield for the United man, though. The game was overshadowed by a horrible injury for Ghana midfielder Abu Francis after half-time.
As Tanaka shaped to shoot on the edge of the box, Francis got his foot between Tanaka’s swing and the ball. Tanaka’s strike then went through Francis’ leg instead of the ball, leading to a serious injury for the 24-year-old Toulouse man.
Obviously distraught from such a catastrophic accident, when Tanaka was subbed, he was pictured apologising to Ghana manager Otto Addo on the touchline:
Immediately after his substitution, Japan player Aoi Tanaka went straight to Ghana coach Otto Addo to apologise for causing the serious injury to Francis Abu.
Even in the heat of intense rivalry, the attitude of mutual respect is truly admirable.
Speedy recovery to Francis… pic.twitter.com/fGejvsFW5y
— Ibrahim Sannie Daara (@SannieDaara) November 14, 2025
Horrible setback for Francis Abu as Ao Tanaka shares his apology for injury
It was a gruesome injury for Francis and of course a complete accident in how it transpired. Tanaka is going to shoot and doesn’t even see Francis’ leg come in to make the tackle.
It’s a freak accident, but it’s good to see Tanaka’s class in extending his apology to the Ghana manager straight after he was brought off.
Former Leeds man and Francis’ Toulouse teammate Charlie Cresswell has since showed his support for the midfielder on social media.