Mohammed Kudus Drops Out of Ghana Squad for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Against Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia
Mohammed Kudus has opted out of Ghana’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, despite being named in Carlos Queiroz’s 24-man Black Stars squad.
Information available to IndustryBuzzGH indicates that Kudus wants to focus on completing his recovery at Tottenham Hotspur and regaining his best physical condition and form before returning to international action.
The decision comes just days after the 26-year-old made his return to Premier League football following a lengthy injury lay-off.
Mohammed Kudus Communicates Decision to Ghana FA
The decision has reportedly already been communicated to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz.
Kudus came off the bench at half-time in Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday and immediately provided an attacking spark. The Ghanaian midfielder set up Conor Gallagher for Tottenham’s first Premier League goal of the season in the 86th minute after cutting the ball back from the byline.
Kudus Returns After Lengthy Injury Lay-Off
The appearance followed Kudus’ first start since January in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool earlier this week.
The Ghana international had been sidelined for seven months after suffering a significant quad injury in January. Tottenham subsequently confirmed in April that Kudus had suffered a setback in his recovery and required further specialist assessment.
His return to competitive football represented an important step in his recovery, but the latest decision suggests that the midfielder intends to continue working on his fitness and physical condition at club level before resuming international duties.
Why Mohammed Kudus Missed Ghana’s 2026 World Cup Campaign
Kudus missed Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign because of the injury. The Ghana Football Association later included him in Carlos Queiroz’s latest Black Stars squad after confirming that he had recovered and returned to competitive football.
His last appearance for the Black Stars came on October 12, 2025, when he scored the winning goal in Ghana’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Comoros in Accra.
Ghana’s Upcoming AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
Ghana are scheduled to face Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24 before hosting The Gambia on September 29.
The Black Stars will then face Morocco in an international friendly on October 4.
Kudus’ decision means his long-awaited return to the Black Stars will be delayed as he continues his rehabilitation and recovery with Tottenham Hotspur.
Mohammed Kudus’ Ghana Return Delayed
For Ghana, Kudus’ absence will be notable as the Black Stars prepare for their upcoming international fixtures. For the player, however, the focus remains on completing his recovery and building back his fitness and form at Tottenham.
His decision to remain with his club means Ghana will have to prepare for the upcoming AFCON 2027 qualifiers without the Tottenham midfielder.
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