Former GFA vice president criticizes Kudus’ appointment as Black Stars stand-in captain in the Sudan match
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Vice President George Afriyie has voiced his disagreement with the decision to appoint Mohammed Kudus as the stand-in captain for the Black Stars during their match against Sudan. Kudus, who plays for West Ham United, was named captain for the crucial doubleheader in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after regular captain Thomas Partey was ruled out due to medical issues.
Although Jordan Ayew, a senior player in the team, was next in line to lead the squad, Kudus was ultimately chosen to fill the role instead. This decision has sparked debate, especially after the Black Stars struggled in both matches. Ghana managed only a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium, followed by a disappointing 2-0 defeat in the second leg at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Libya.
Afriyie, who expressed his concerns in an interview with Joy Sports, questioned the rationale behind the decision to bypass Ayew for such a crucial assignment. “I’m not convinced under what circumstance, where we have a Black Stars [captaincy] structure, where who is the captain and the next in line [are defined], and I mean, in such a crucial moment, the captaincy was given to Kudus. There are so many things but we are not there,” Afriyie remarked.
As a result of these performances, Ghana now finds itself in a uncertain position, sitting third in Group F with just two points from four games. The team faces the possibility of missing out on AFCON qualification for the first time in 20 years. To secure their place in the tournament, set to take place in Morocco next year, the Black Stars must win their final two matches in November against Niger and Angola. Additionally, they will need Sudan to lose both of their remaining fixtures.
With the pressure mounting, the decision to appoint Kudus as captain remains a hot topic, especially with Ghana’s hopes of qualifying for AFCON hanging in the balance.
