By OkayGoal 
Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has acknowledged that the absence of Mohammed Kudus will be a major setback for the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while insisting that injuries are an unavoidable part of the game.
The 25-year-old, who was expected to return to full fitness in late April after a hamstring problem, suffered a relapse that ruled him out for the rest of the season and ultimately forced his exclusion from Carlos Queiroz’s final 26-man squad for the tournament in North America.
Speaking on TV3 Sports, Mr Adams said there had been hope the forward would recover in time, but admitted the situation reflects the harsh realities of professional football.
“We prayed for Kudus to be fit in order to play the World Cup tournament, but injury is part of the football profession,” the Buem MP said.
Kudus, who now plays for Tottenham Hotspur, remains a key figure in recent Black Stars history, notably scoring twice in Ghana’s dramatic 3-2 victory over South Korea at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ghana will be making their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, where they have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia.
The Black Stars begin their campaign on June 17 against Panama at BMO Field, before facing England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium, and concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27.
The team will be hoping to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since their memorable quarter-final run in 2010.