Mohammed Kudus, one of Ghana’s most promising young footballers, has been ruled out of representing the Black Meteors in the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The talented midfielder, who currently plays for Dutch giants Ajax, was born on August 2, 2000, just outside the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) cutoff date of January 1, 2001, or later.
Kudus was not included in Ibrahim Tanko’s roster for the U-23 AFCON, which will be held in Morocco in June, but there was hope that he could join the squad to increase Ghana’s chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Unfortunately, Kudus’ age means he is not eligible to play in the tournament, which serves as a qualifier for the Olympics.
Henry Asante Twum, the Ghana Football Association’s communications director, expressed disappointment at Kudus’ ineligibility but expressed confidence in the Black Meteors’ squad for the tournament.
Speaking on Asempa FM, Twum said, “If we are able to get all our U-23 players who are still available; from Kudus to Kamaldeen, Abdul Salis, Afena-Gyan and all players who play for the Black Stars, [we could qualify for the Olympic Games].”
The Black Meteors qualified for the U-23 AFCON after defeating Algeria 1-0 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Tuesday.
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The victory ensured Ghana advanced 2-1 overall and secured a spot in the tournament, which will feature eight teams competing for the title.
While Kudus’ absence is undoubtedly a blow to Ghana’s hopes of Olympic qualification, the Black Meteors will still have a talented squad at their disposal.
The likes of Kamaldeen Sulemana, Frank Arhin, and Jonah Attuquaye will be looking to make an impact in Morocco and help Ghana secure a place at the Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo later this year.
In the meantime, Kudus will continue to focus on his club career with Ajax, where he has impressed since joining in 2020. The 22-year-old has scored four goals in 23 appearances in all competitions this season and looks set for a bright future in the game.
While he may not be able to help Ghana in the U-23 AFCON, fans of the Black Stars can still look forward to seeing Kudus represent his country at the senior level in the years to come.
Source: OccupyGh.com
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