Mohammed Salisu made his highly anticipated return to competitive football on Friday, logging his first minutes of the season during AS Monaco’s 2-1 victory over Lens.

The Ghanaian defender entered the pitch as a stoppage-time substitute in the 90+1st minute, ending a grueling 258-day layoff caused by a severe Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury suffered early in January.

His brief but symbolic cameo served as a massive sigh of relief for both club and country, signaling the end of an intensive rehabilitation process that kept one of Africa's top defensive talents sidelined for the majority of the calendar year.

Salisu's lengthy absence was a devastating blow, most notably forcing him to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Ghana Black Stars.

Without his physical presence, aerial dominance, and composure in the defensive heart, Ghana sorely missed their primary anchor during the tournament's group stages.

His return provides an immediate, monumental boost to Ghana’s upcoming international campaigns and fortifies Monaco’s backline as they navigate a dense domestic and European schedule.

Managerial staff will likely ease the 27-year-old centre-back back into the starting eleven, but his successful return to full fitness injects vital leadership, elite positioning, and tactical stability into both squads exactly when they need it most to secure their season objectives.