Mohammed Kudus withdraws from Ghana squad ahead of AFCON qualifiers

Tottenham Hotpsur star Mohammed Kudus has withdrawn from the Ghana squad ahead of the Black Stars’ opening matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The former West Ham United midfielder has opted out of the upcoming qualifiers after recently returning from an injury that ruled him out of action for several months.

Kudus was initially named in head coach Carlos Queiroz’s squad last week, with his return to the national team expected to provide a major boost to Ghana ahead of the start of their AFCON qualifying campaign.

However, the 26-year-old has decided to remain with his club and continue working towards regaining full fitness rather than join the Black Stars for the upcoming international assignment.

The decision comes as Kudus continues to manage his recovery following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The midfielder has been working his way back to full fitness after suffering the quad problem that kept him out of action for an extended period.

His withdrawal will come as a setback for Queiroz, who had included Kudus among several notable players returning to the national team after missing Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

The Black Stars are preparing for a demanding start to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, with Ghana scheduled to face Côte d’Ivoire in their opening Group F fixture on September 24 in Bouaké.

The encounter will be followed by another qualifier against The Gambia as Ghana begin their bid to secure a place at the next Africa Cup of Nations.

Kudus’ absence means the Black Stars will have to begin the qualifying campaign without one of their most influential attacking players, while the technical team will hope the midfielder can complete his recovery and return to competitive action soon.

For Kudus, the immediate priority will be to regain full fitness and build up his match readiness after his injury layoff. His continued recovery could determine when he is able to return to the Ghana setup and contribute to the Black Stars’ campaign.

Further assessment of his condition will be closely monitored by both Tottenham and the Ghana national team as the midfielder works towards making a full return.