Ghana Coach Otto Addo has commented on Mohammed Kudus’ red card in West Ham’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, attributing it to frustration stemming from Ghana’s disappointing results in their October matches against Sudan.
Kudus received the red card for violent conduct following a VAR review on October 19, a match that came after Ghana’s failed attempt to secure a win in the doubleheader against Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
This suspension means that, in addition to missing games against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Everton, Kudus will also be unavailable for West Ham’s upcoming fixtures against Newcastle United on November 25 and Arsenal on November 30.
The 24-year-old, who captained Ghana during their 0-0 draw and 2-0 loss to Sudan, explained that his actions were partly a result of social media abuse following the qualifiers.
“They showed extra effort in their clubs. They regret it, and you could see that maybe their emotions were still high. They feel for the nation,” Addo said.
“I don’t know why exactly Kudus got a red card, but maybe it was also because he was disappointed with the last games we had with the national team.
“This is the only way they can show it: through their performance,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars began their camp on Monday, holding their first training session with eight players.
The squad will complete their final preparations before traveling to Luanda on Wednesday for their upcoming AFCON qualifier against Angola on Friday, November 15, at the Estádio 11 de Novembro.
They will then return to Accra to face Niger on Monday, November 18, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Currently, Ghana sits third in Group F with only two points from four matches, meaning their qualification hopes are no longer within their control.
To qualify, the Black Stars must win both of their remaining games and hope Sudan, with seven points, loses their final two fixtures.