Mohammed Kudus has withdrawn from Ghana’s squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, despite initially being named in Carlos Queiroz’s 24-man Black Stars squad.
Information available to JoySports indicates that Kudus has opted to remain with Tottenham Hotspur as he continues his recovery and works towards regaining full fitness and his best 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 lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Kudus’ decision has already been communicated to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The Ghanaian winger returned from the bench at half-time in Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday and immediately made an impact. He provided the assist for Conor Gallagher’s goal in the 86th minute after cutting the ball back from the byline.
The appearance followed Kudus’ first start since January, when he featured in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool earlier in the week.
Kudus had been sidelined for seven months after suffering a significant quad injury in January. Tottenham later confirmed in April that he had suffered a setback in his recovery and required further specialist assessment.
The injury also ruled him out of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The GFA subsequently included Kudus in Queiroz’s latest squad after confirming that he had recovered sufficiently 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 are scheduled to face Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24 before hosting The Gambia on September 29. The Black Stars will then play Morocco in an international friendly on October 4.
Kudus’ withdrawal means his long-awaited return to the Black Stars will be delayed as he prioritises his rehabilitation and recovery with Tottenham.
