Ghana coach Chris Hughton remains uncertain about the availability of Mohammed Kudus for Thursday’s crucial game against Egypt, admitting that a last-minute decision will determine the attacking midfielder’s participation at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny.
Kudus is grappling with a hamstring issue that kept him sidelined during Ghana’s opening match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The West Ham star observed from the stands as the Black Stars suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat against Cape Verde, placing the team in a challenging position. To revive their qualification hopes, they now must secure a victory in their upcoming match against the seven-time champions.
Hughton, keen on fielding his strongest lineup, may face the setback of being without the in-form Kudus once again. Despite the player’s remarkable season with West Ham, scoring 10 goals in various competitions since his transfer from Ajax for over 40 million euros, the coach expressed uncertainty regarding Kudus’ status.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Hughton admitted, “We will continue to assess Mohammed Kudus. He has trained the last few days. We will assess him today and tomorrow and make a decision tomorrow.” Kudus had joined the squad late in preparation for the tournament.
There are concerns that history might repeat itself, recalling the 2021 tournament in Cameroon when an injury forced Kudus to miss the entire event. If he sits out the game against Egypt and potentially subsequent matches, and if Ghana fail to qualify, Kudus could face a wait of at least two more years for his AFCON debut.