Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus will be absent from Ghana’s upcoming friendly matches against Nigeria and Uganda in Morocco due to shoulder issues, according to sources close to the Black Stars.
Kudus, who was initially named in Otto Addo’s squad for the March international break, has been forced to withdraw from the lineup. His number 20 jersey has been reassigned to another player for the two scheduled games, confirming his absence from the squad.
Sources revealed that Kudus sustained a shoulder discomfort following his participation in West Ham’s Premier League fixture against Aston Villa last weekend. Although he completed the entire match at London Stadium, the 23-year-old reportedly experienced pain afterward.
Despite his inclusion in the initial squad list, Kudus was not listed on West Ham’s website as one of the players expected to join their respective national teams for the international break. Consequently, he will remain in London to undergo treatment and recover from his shoulder injury.
This setback is not unfamiliar to Kudus, who previously missed Ghana’s opening game in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Cape Verde due to a tight hamstring. Although he later regained fitness and participated in subsequent matches against Egypt and Mozambique, his current shoulder ailment has sidelined him once again.
In Kudus’ absence, new faces like Francis Abu and Forson Amankwah have been handed debut call-ups to the Black Stars, adding depth to the midfield options for Ghana’s upcoming fixtures.
Ghana is scheduled to face Nigeria on March 22nd followed by a match against Uganda four days later, with both encounters taking place in Marrakech, Morocco. Despite Kudus’ absence, the Black Stars will aim to put forth a competitive performance as they prepare for future international competitions.
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