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.
According to information available to 3Sports, Kudus wants to focus on completing his recovery at Tottenham Hotspur and regaining full fitness and form before returning to international football.
The decision comes just days after the 26-year-old made his return to Premier League action following a seven-month injury lay-off.
Kudus reportedly communicated his decision to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The Tottenham midfielder returned from the bench at half-time during Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa and made an immediate impact. He provided the assist for Conor Gallagher’s 86th-minute goal after cutting the ball back from the byline.
His Premier League appearance came shortly after he made his first start since January in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool earlier in the week.
Kudus had been sidelined since January after suffering a significant quad injury. Tottenham confirmed in April that he had suffered a setback in his recovery and needed further specialist assessment.
The injury also ruled him out of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The GFA later included Kudus in Queiroz’s latest 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 only goal in Ghana’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Comoros in Accra.
Ghana will face Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24 before hosting The Gambia in Accra on September 29. The Black Stars are also scheduled to play Morocco in an international friendly on October 4.
Kudus’ decision means his return to the Black Stars will be delayed as he continues to focus on regaining his fitness and reaching his best condition with Tottenham.
