Hero Mohammed Kudus is heading to AFCON with Ghana and these are the six West Ham games he will now likely miss.
New West Ham signing Mohammed Kudus gave Hammers fans a taste of what’s to come when he led Ghana into the 2024 AFCON on Thursday evening.
West Ham’s £38m summer signing from Ajax was playing in an African Nations qualifying decider for the Black Stars against Central African Republic.
The hosts found themselves 1-0 down and staring at elimination in the Group E decider.
But then up stepped Kudus with a free-kick his new West Ham teammate James Ward-Prowse would be proud of before half-time.
Hero Mohammed Kudus heading to AFCON with Ghana and these are the six West Ham games he will now likely miss
Kudus bent in a wonderful left-footed equaliser from the edge of the box. A point would have been enough to see Ghana top the group and advance to the tournament proper.
But Ernest Nuamah made sure in the 88th minute to make it 2-1.
Hero Kudus is heading to AFCON with Ghana and these are the six West Ham games he will now likely miss.
As reported on Hammers News, with Kudus qualifying, West Ham look set to be missing four stars for five or six games between January and February.
Clubs are usually required to release players participating in AFCON at least a week prior to the tournament starting on January 13th.
And the tournament does not finish until five weeks later on February 11th.
Most players involved are also given a few days rest after their involvement before returning to club duty – although that will be between West Ham boss David Moyes and his players to agree upon.
FA Cup third round tie among games Kudus and co will likely miss
Ghana will be one of the favourites to go deep into the tournament.
And that means Kudus will likely miss six games starting with West Ham’s FA Cup third round tie on the weekend of January 6th.
He will then likely miss Premier League games against Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Manchester United, Arsenal and possibly Nottingham Forest depending on how far Ghana go and how much – if any – leave West Ham give him afterwards.
Kudus will be joined – if fit and selected – by West Ham teammates Nayef Aguerd (Morocco), Said Benrahma (Algeria) and Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast) at AFCON.
You can check out Kudus’ wonderful free-kick goal here.