Mohammed Kudus opens up about post-AFCON struggles

Mohammed Kudus says he felt down after Ghana’s early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), admitting it affected his performance upon returning to West Ham.

The four-time African champions’ elimination in the group stage left Kudus disheartened, particularly after the 2-2 draw against Mozambique, a match that concluded their AFCON campaign prematurely.

Despite struggling with a hamstring problem, Kudus made significant contributions, notably scoring two goals against Egypt and earning two Man of the Match awards. However, his individual brilliance couldn’t salvage Ghana’s disappointing tournament.

Reflecting on the experience, Kudus expressed to the Guardian, “As human beings, we need some time to shake stuff off.”

He revealed the impact of the disappointment, stating, “I was injured before Afcon and had to put all my effort into being there to help the team. It was my first Afcon and it didn’t go as planned. When you go back straight into playing nobody ever gives you time to change gear. It had an impact because it was a big disappointment.”

“Why did Ghana crash out of AFCON?”

Mohammed Kudus: pic.twitter.com/2jQ4Svmsv7

— BASITO (@itzbasito) January 22, 2024

Following his withdrawal from recent Ghana friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda due to a shoulder injury, Kudus has resumed training with West Ham ahead of their clash against Newcastle United.

With 11 goals across all competitions, Kudus remains a pivotal player for West Ham as they enter the final stretch of the campaign, relying heavily on his contributions.