Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may be heading for an unexpected twist, with Mohammed Kudus facing a worrying injury setback that could reopen the door for veteran forward Andre Ayew.
According to Tottenham Hotspur, the 25-year-old Kudus has encountered complications in his recovery from a quadriceps injury picked up earlier this year.
The situation now requires further specialist assessment, with surgery emerging as a possible outcome, casting real uncertainty over his fitness ahead of the global tournament.
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With Ghana’s World Cup opener against Panama fast approaching on June 17, the timing could hardly be worse. Kudus has grown into a central attacking figure for the Black Stars, and his absence would leave a significant creative and tactical gap in the squad.
The uncertainty is further compounded by instability on the technical bench. Since the departure of Otto Addo after March’s international friendlies, Ghana remain without a permanent head coach, though an announcement is expected imminently.
We can confirm that Mohammed Kudus has suffered a setback in his return from injury.
The Ghana international forward suffered a significant quad injury during our Premier League fixture against Sunderland in January.
He had returned to team training during the past week,… pic.twitter.com/MSrHMcZds1
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 9, 2026
Whoever takes over will immediately be tasked with reshaping a squad potentially missing one of its most influential players.
In that context, Ayew’s name has resurfaced with renewed weight.
The 36-year-old, Ghana’s all-time most capped player, has been largely sidelined from national team consideration since early 2024 as the previous regime leaned toward younger options. Yet, Ayew has quietly kept himself relevant, recently getting off the mark for NAC Breda and demonstrating he still has something to offer at a competitive level.
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More importantly, Ayew brings something Ghana may now desperately need — experience.
A veteran of multiple World Cups and Africa Cup of Nations campaigns, his leadership, positional flexibility, and composure under pressure could prove vital in a high-stakes tournament environment.
While his potential recall has divided opinion in recent months, Kudus’s situation has shifted the narrative. What once seemed unlikely now appears increasingly plausible.
Ghana, drawn into a challenging group alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, will need both quality and resilience to progress. If Kudus is ultimately ruled out, Ayew’s return may not just be sentimental, it could become a strategic necessity.
