Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has explained the decision to allow Mohammed Kudus to withdraw from the Black Stars squad ahead of the team's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. Kudus was initially named in Queiroz's 24-man squad for the September international window. However, he has opted out as he continues his recovery and works towards regaining full fitness and form with Tottenham Hotspur.
Kudus returned to competitive action following a lengthy injury lay-off, coming off the bench at half-time in Tottenham's 3-2 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday. He made an immediate impact, setting up Conor Gallagher for Spurs' first league goal of the season. Kudus had also made his first start since January in Tottenham's Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool earlier in the week.
The 26-year-old Ghanaian had been sidelined for seven months after suffering a significant quad injury in January and missed Ghana's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign as a result. Queiroz initially included Kudus in the squad after monitoring his recovery and return to competitive football. However, further observations and discussions led the coach to conclude that the player needed more time before returning to international duty.
Explaining the decision during his first meeting with the press after his reappointment, Queiroz said that the coaching staff considered the player's club games and couldn't control the decisions of club coaches. The Portuguese coach added that Kudus' latest appearance provided additional information about his physical condition, which influenced the decision to withdraw him from the squad.
According to Queiroz, the final decision was reached after further discussions with Kudus, with the coach stating that the best decision was to protect the player's progress. Kudus' withdrawal means his long-awaited return to the Black Stars has been delayed as he continues his rehabilitation and recovery at Tottenham.
The Black Stars will face Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24 before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29. Ghana will then play Morocco in an international friendly on October 4. For Queiroz, the priority is now to ensure Kudus completes his recovery properly, with the coach making it clear that protecting the player's progress is more important than rushing his return to the national team.
Kudus' last appearance for Ghana came on October 12, 2025, when he scored the winning goal in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Comoros in Accra. With Kudus' withdrawal, Queiroz will have to consider alternative options for the upcoming qualifiers, as the team aims to secure a spot in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- Mohammed Kudus will not join Ghana's Black Stars squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers due to his ongoing recovery from a quad injury.
- Carlos Queiroz decided to withdraw Kudus from the squad to protect his progress and allow him to regain full fitness with Tottenham Hotspur.
- Ghana will face Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with an international friendly against Morocco also scheduled.
