Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United has come under fire from Ghanaian media following a crucial penalty miss in Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Niger during an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The 24-year-old won the penalty in the dying moments of stoppage time but failed to convert, with Mahamadou Dijbo denying him in the 96th minute. The miss confirmed Ghana’s elimination from the tournament.
Ghana’s dismal AFCON qualifying campaign has left them bottom of Group F, 11 points behind group leaders Angola, and without a chance to progress. Kudus has been a focal point of criticism. Pulse rated his performance a mere 3/10, highlighting his poor decision-making and accusing him of slowing down the team’s attack by holding onto the ball for too long.
Similarly, Ghana Soccernet labeled Kudus’ penalty miss as the low point of what they described as a “disastrous campaign” for the Black Stars. The team failed to secure a single victory and scored just three goals across six matches. According to the outlet, the missed penalty symbolized Ghana’s broader struggles to finish games with confidence.
The setback comes during a tough period for Kudus, who has faced challenges both on the international stage and in his club career. His frustrations boiled over during West Ham’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham, an incident that earned him a five-match FA ban for violent conduct. This season, Kudus has failed to replicate the form that made him a standout in his Premier League debut, contributing only two goals so far.
As the international break concludes, Kudus will need to shift his focus back to West Ham. With Lucas Paquetá unavailable, manager Julen Lopetegui is counting on Kudus to regain his composure and deliver when the Hammers face Leicester City on December 3. Lopetegui himself is under scrutiny, with the West Ham board demanding better results after the break.
Meanwhile, reports suggest West Ham may explore bringing in Brendan Rodgers as a potential managerial replacement, creating additional uncertainty around the club’s direction. As Kudus and his team navigate these challenges, both player and club will need to regroup and push for improvement in the weeks ahead.
