The 26-year-old Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was initially included in Carlos Queiroz's 24-man Black Stars selection for the September international window. However, the decision to withdraw was formally communicated to both the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the national team technical body. Kudus’ choice stems directly from a desire to focus on regaining full match fitness following a lengthy, painful stint on the sidelines.
The playmaker spent seven months out of action after suffering a severe quad injury in January 2026, a situation aggravated by a recovery setback in April that required specialist intervention. That extended period of inactivity forced him to miss Ghana’s entire 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Although Kudus recently made a welcome return to competitive action, his workload is being carefully managed. He registered his first start since January during Tottenham's Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool before coming off the bench at half-time in Spurs' 3-2 Premier League defeat against Aston Villa, where he set up Conor Gallagher for an 86th-minute goal.
Despite these encouraging appearances, the midfielder is not yet at peak physical condition for back-to-back international fixtures. His most recent outing for the Black Stars remains the October 12, 2025, World Cup qualifier against Comoros in Accra, where his decisive goal sealed a 1-0 victory.
Kudus’ absence leaves a noticeable creative void as Ghana prepares for a demanding schedule. The Black Stars travel to Bouaké to face Côte d'Ivoire on September 24, before hosting The Gambia in Accra on September 29, 2026, followed by an international friendly against Morocco on October 4.
The pressure on Coach Queiroz remains immense, having previously emphasized the critical nature of these games by stating, "We cannot win AFCON when we have not qualified".
Unsurprisingly, news of the withdrawal has drawn strong reactions across Ghana's vibrant sports community. Interacting on social media, fan Abochi Stephen Zion King voiced support for the move, noting, "Good one dere he not fit enough for the games ahead", while Reginald Ainooson admitted, "I saw this coming!".
Taking a sharper angle on national team dynamics, supporter Kojo Pharisee added, "He should stay away till 'somebody' retires". Ultimately, while fans will miss his presence on the pitch, allowing Kudus full recovery time at Tottenham may prove vital for his long-term availability for the Black Stars.
Mohammed Kudus’ decision to withdraw from the upcoming AFCON 2027 qualifiers is a pragmatic choice driven by his long-term fitness goals and recovery from a major quad injury.
While his absence presents a tactical hurdle for Carlos Queiroz against tough opposition like Côte d'Ivoire, securing a fully fit Kudus for future international assignments is in the best interest of Ghanaian football.
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