Mohammed Kudus has broken his silence following Ghana’s premature exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) expressing his regret following the team’s dismal performance.
The West Ham United star, who showcased his talent with a remarkable debut at the tournament, expressed regret and took full responsibility for the team’s disappointing performance in Ivory Coast.
In a heartfelt message to Ghanaians, Kudus stated, “To the heart and soul of Ghana. Falling short at my debut AFCON is a hard reality we face together, but as a playing body, we take full responsibility. We deeply regret not meeting your hopes this time. Your enduring support is our motivation to make you proud in the future.”
To the heart & soul of ??. Falling short at my debut #AFCON23 is a hard reality we face together but as a playing body we take full responsibility. We deeply regret not meeting your hopes this time. Your enduring support is our motivation to making you proud in the future. pic.twitter.com/Ltrtaqedwv
— Mo Kuku (@KudusMohammedGH) January 27, 2024
Despite Ghana’s abysmal overall showing, Kudus delivered standout performances in the matches he played. He scored a brace in the 2-2 draw against Egypt and won a penalty in the final match against Mozambique, contributing to Ghana’s 2-0 lead. However, defensive lapses led to a late comeback by Mozambique, denying Ghana a spot in the next round.
In both matches, the 23-year-old was adjudged Man of The Match underscoring his remarkable performances at the tournament.
Ghana only had to beat Mozambique to secure a place in the last 16 but got punished for their lackluster showing paving the way for Egypt to sail through. The exit marks a back-to-back group stage elimination at the AFCON for the Bllack Stars – an unwanted record.
Kudus is expected to return to England this week to rejoin his West Ham teammates for the second part of the league.