Queiroz explains why Kudus withdrew from Black Stars squad

By: Godbless Asaana‎
‎Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has explained the decision to allow Mohammed Kudus to withdraw from Ghana’s squad ahead of the team’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
‎
‎Kudus was initially named in Queiroz’s 24-man squad for the September international window but opted out as he continues his recovery and works towards regaining full fitness and form at Tottenham Hotspur.
‎
‎The 26-year-old recently returned to competitive action following a seven-month injury lay-off after suffering a significant quad injury in January.
‎
‎Kudus came on at half-time during Tottenham’s 3-2 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday and immediately made an impact, setting up Conor Gallagher for Spurs’ first league goal of the season after cutting the ball back from the byline.
‎
‎He had also started Tottenham’s Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool earlier in the week, his first start since January.
‎
‎Queiroz initially included Kudus in the squad after monitoring his recovery and return to competitive football. However, further assessment and discussions with the player led to the decision that he needed more time before returning to international duty.
‎
‎Speaking at his first press conference since returning as Black Stars coach, Queiroz said the decision was influenced by Kudus’ latest performances and his physical condition.
‎
‎“On the course of our decisions we have the club games and we national team coaches, we can’t control the decisions of coaches [in clubs]. In the course of our observations and conversations, it looked like Kudus was moving in the right direction and I had to make the decisions with the matches,” he said.
‎
‎Queiroz explained that Kudus’ latest appearance for Tottenham provided the technical team with additional information about his progress.
‎
‎“I was able to scout and make the right observations but later on other information about the stage of the player after he played about 70 minutes, unfortunately he was not progressing in the direction we expect,” he added.
‎
‎According to the Portuguese coach, further discussions with Kudus ultimately resulted in the decision to prioritise his recovery rather than rush him back into international football.
‎
‎“So in our final conversation with Kudus we realized the best decision is to protect his progress,” Queiroz said.
‎
‎Kudus’ withdrawal delays his anticipated return to the Black Stars after his last appearance for Ghana on October 12, 2025, when he scored the winning goal in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Comoros in Accra.
‎
‎Ghana will begin its 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24 before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29.
‎
‎The Black Stars will then face Morocco in an international friendly on October 4.
‎
‎For Queiroz, however, ensuring Kudus completes his recovery properly remains the priority, with the coach opting against rushing the Tottenham forward back into the national team setup.
‎