Mohammed Kudus may be facing a more severe hamstring injury than initially thought, raising doubts about his availability for Ghana’s opening AFCON game against Cape Verde on Sunday.
The 23-year-old reported hamstring tightness after West Ham’s victory over Arsenal, prompting an assessment by the club and communication of the injury to the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
Although expected to rejoin the team last week, Kudus’ return has been delayed, requiring an additional 5-6 days for full fitness. Currently in Ghana, he is working intensively with physiotherapists to expedite his recovery before the team’s departure to Ivory Coast on Wednesday.
The decision to include Kudus in the initial match against Cape Verde remains uncertain due to his compromised fitness resulting from missed training sessions and the Namibia friendly.
Despite earlier indications of his possible return today, recent developments suggest a longer-than-expected period of sidelining.
Having missed the 2021 AFCON due to a rib fracture, Kudus is determined to make his debut in the competition for the Black Stars. Notably, his time at Ajax included a hamstring injury in April 2023, sidelining him for four games.
Ghana finds themselves in Group B, alongside Mohammed Kudus may, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.