Black Stars defender Alidu Seidu says stepping back onto the pitch after spending nearly a year on the sidelines felt both “crazy” and emotional.

The 25-year-old had been out of action for 250 days following a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The setback ruled him out of 24 games for his French Ligue 1 side Rennes and kept him away from the national team.

Seidu’s long-awaited return came in Rennes’ 4-0 defeat to Lorient. While the result was disappointing, the versatile defender insists the real victory was simply being able to play again.

“The moment I stepped on the pitch, I was so happy. The ACL was my biggest and longest injury. Coming back was crazy and weird at the same time, but I was just waiting for this day,” he told Flashscore.com.

Since then, Seidu has quickly found his rhythm. He featured against Lyon before turning in a man-of-the-match display against Nantes, where he grabbed an assist and showed flashes of the intensity that once made him indispensable for Rennes.

With his comeback on track, Seidu has already set his sights on the bigger picture.

“My goal is to get a lot of minutes, to give everything so Rennes can qualify for Europe. I’m convinced this season we can do good things,” he added.

His return is also welcome news for Ghana, as the Black Stars gear up for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Central African Republic and Comoros.