Often players can use their domestic form to shape their international career- brimming with confidence from club form often translates into vastly improved performances on the international stage. But it can work the other way around for West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus who has endured a desperate time in the Ghana national side colours in the last 12 months.
Vilified in social media and pilloried by ‘commentators’ in his home country, Kudus had to bear the brunt of criticism as his Black Stars’ Ghana side finished bottom of the group and failed to qualify for AFCON 2025. He was even subjected to a torrent of advice about the superstition attached to his shirt number at the time.
However it would seem that finally the tide has turned for Kudus who has to endure a 3000 mile journey to turn out for Ghana against Chad in Accra: He missed one days training before the game but put in a solid performance by all accounts as Ghana ran out 5-0 winners in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier.
Social media posts doing the rounds showed Kudus in buoyant mood after the game celebrating with team mates. That has been a long time coming.
If ‘Starboy’ can continue the good form in Ghana’s second qualifier against Madagascar on Monday night then he is likely to return to West Ham in a much more upbeat mood without the haranguing he endured last year on twitter: Maybe a similar upturn in his domestic form in Claret and Blue will follow the uptick in his International performances.
We can but hope.
