Ghana have been handed a significant boost before the start of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with Mohammed Kudus returning to competitive action for Tottenham Hotspur after a seven-month absence.
The midfielder came off the bench in the 68th minute of Tottenham’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United on Saturday, marking his first appearance since suffering a lengthy injury lay-off.
Kudus was unable to prevent Newcastle from securing victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa scored for the visitors, while Tottenham’s returning midfielder had limited time to influence the result.
Nevertheless, his comeback will be welcomed by Ghana as the Black Stars prepare for two important opening fixtures in their bid to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kudus, 26, had been out since January after sustaining an injury during a match against Sunderland. His rehabilitation was then disrupted by a relapse in April, extending the period he spent away from first-team football.
The injury kept him out for 237 days and saw him miss 25 matches for Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions.
His return has come only weeks before Ghana begin their qualifying campaign. The Black Stars are scheduled to travel to Bouake to play Ivory Coast on 24 September, before hosting Gambia in Accra three days later on 27 September.
Ghana will be determined to make a stronger start to the qualification process after failing to reach the most recent Africa Cup of Nations. Kudus’ availability could be especially important as the national side look to avoid another disappointing campaign.
The midfielder was also a notable absentee for parts of Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign, during which the Black Stars progressed to the knockout stage. His creativity, attacking ability and experience have made him an important figure for both club and country.
Although Kudus has now returned to the pitch, Ghana will hope he can rebuild his fitness and match sharpness quickly enough to contribute from the opening games of the qualifiers.
His appearance against Newcastle United was an initial step back after more than seven months on the sidelines. The Black Stars will now monitor his progress as they prepare for the demanding fixtures against Ivory Coast and Gambia.
With the qualifying campaign approaching, Ghana will hope Kudus can regain his best form and provide the attacking inspiration required to begin their route towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on a positive note.
