Mohammed Kudus has opted out of Ghana’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, despite initially being named in head coach Carlos Queiroz’s 24-man Black Stars squad.
The 26-year-old Tottenham Hotspur midfielder made the decision to prioritize his full physical recovery following a lengthy injury lay-off. According to sources available to JoySports, the decision has already been formally communicated to both the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and coach Carlos Queiroz.
Kudus recently returned to action after seven months on the sidelines due to a severe quad injury suffered in January, which required specialist care after a setback in April. The injury previously ruled him out of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
He made his Premier League return over the weekend, coming off the bench at half-time during Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa and assisting Conor Gallagher’s goal in the 86th minute.
Upcoming Black Stars Fixtures Affected:
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Sept 24: vs. Côte d’Ivoire (Bouaké)
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Sept 29: vs. The Gambia (Home)
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Oct 4: International Friendly vs. Morocco
Kudus’ decision postpones his return to the national team—where his last appearance was on October 12, 2025, scoring the winner against Comoros—as he focuses on regaining peak fitness with Tottenham Hotspur.
Source: joyfmonline.com