Mohammed Kudus has rejoined the Black Stars squad for training ahead of their crucial Group B match against Egypt at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The forward, who missed the team’s opening 2-1 defeat to Cape Verde due to a hamstring injury, is expected to be available for selection on Thursday evening.
According to Ghana FA spokesperson Asante Twum, Kudus participated in full team training on Monday and is being assessed by the medical team. If all goes well, he should be fit enough to feature against Egypt.
Kudus’ return would come as a timely boost for the Black Stars, who struggled in their opener without their star forward. The team’s attacking capabilities were limited, and they were unable to find the back of the net until the final moments of the game.
“Normally what he does is that after the first 15-20 minutes of training, he joins the physios for his personal training outside of the group,” said Ghana FA spokesperson Asante Twum on Anopa suo Sports with Emmanuel Fosu Appiah.
“Luckily, today [Monday] he trained with the rest of the squad. He stayed in the group training for the whole period. The medical team is still assessing him.
“He is back in full team training and I am sure by Wednesday or Thursday he will be fine for that match.”
Coach Chris Hughton has a big decision to make regarding Kudus’ involvement in the starting lineup. While he may be eager to field his strongest side, he must also consider the player’s fitness levels and avoid aggravating his injury.
A victory against Egypt is imperative for the Black Stars, who have not won a group stage game at the AFCON since 2019. With Kudus back in the fold, they may stand a better chance of achieving that goal.