Ghana's national football team, the Black Stars, has called up Mohammed Fuseini to replace the withdrawn Mohammed Kudus for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures. Kudus, who recently returned to Tottenham Hotspur after a seven-month injury lay-off, has stepped away from international duty to focus on rebuilding his fitness. This development has prompted the inclusion of Fuseini, a 24-year-old midfielder who last represented Ghana at the 2025 Unity Cup.
Mohammed Fuseini's call-up is not the only change in the Black Stars squad, as uncertainty surrounds the fitness of Prince Adu Kwabena. The forward suffered a head injury while playing for Viktoria Plzen against Slavia Praha and was stretchered off the pitch. He will undergo further medical assessment to determine his availability for the Black Stars. Fuseini's inclusion provides an alternative for the team ahead of their qualifying fixtures against Ivory Coast and Gambia, as well as an international friendly against Morocco.
Mohammed Fuseini has had a strong individual moment at club level, scoring a late equaliser for Derby County in a 1-1 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor. This goal marked his first goal for the Championship club since joining. His performance at club level has coincided with the timing of his call-up to the Black Stars, providing a boost to his international prospects. Fuseini is expected to link up with the Black Stars camp this week as Ghana prepare for their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Fuseini's previous experience with the Black Stars was at the 2025 Unity Cup in London, where he made a promising impression. He came off the bench against Nigeria for his senior debut and scored in his first start, helping the Black Stars beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 in the third-place playoff. Despite this, he was not recalled to the senior squad again until now. His recall demonstrates the ongoing efforts of the coaching staff to assess and integrate new players into the team.
The Black Stars will open their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign away to Ivory Coast in Bouaké on 24 September. The team will be without some key players, including Thomas Partey, who suffered a hamstring injury. The absence of these players presents an opportunity for others to step up and make an impact. The coaching staff will be looking to build on the momentum from recent performances and secure positive results in the upcoming fixtures.
Mohammed Fuseini's journey to the Black Stars has been marked by his strong performances at club level and his previous experience with the national team. His call-up reflects the ongoing efforts to identify and develop young talent for the Ghanaian football team. As the team prepares for the upcoming fixtures, Fuseini will be looking to make a lasting impression and secure his place in the squad.
The Black Stars' coaching staff faces the challenge of integrating new players and building a cohesive team ahead of the 2027 AFCON qualifying fixtures. With some key players missing, the team will need to adapt and find new ways to achieve success. The inclusion of Mohammed Fuseini and other young players presents an opportunity for the team to build for the future and achieve positive results in the upcoming fixtures.
Key points
- Mohammed Fuseini has been called up to the Black Stars squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers following Mohammed Kudus' withdrawal due to injury.
- The Black Stars will be without key players, including Thomas Partey, who suffered a hamstring injury.
- Mohammed Fuseini last represented Ghana at the 2025 Unity Cup, where he scored in a 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.
