Former Black Stars defender Daniel Opare has expressed serious concern over Ghana’s prospects at the 2026 FIFA World Cup should midfielder Mohammed Kudus fail to recover from injury.

The 25-year-old Tottenham Hotspur star is currently sidelined with an injury that has ruled him out for the remainder of the club season, leaving his participation in the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico uncertain.

The Kudus Factor

In an interview with JoySports, Opare emphasized that while the national team possesses depth, Kudus provides a unique level of quality that is difficult to replace.

“If he doesn't come back, we're in deep trouble,” Opare told JoySports.

“Like I said, football is, you know, the ones there can play, but I think with Kudus in there, he will add more value to the team.”

Opare urged fans to remain hopeful for a quick recovery: “Fingers crossed, we pray that he recovers on time so that he can make the World Cup.”

Season Impact and Squad Selection

Kudus had been in prolific form for Tottenham Hotspur prior to his injury setback in January, netting nine goals across all competitions. His absence would present a significant challenge for new Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz, who is tasked with finalizing Ghana’s 26-man roster.

Queiroz is expected to submit his official squad list by June 1, as the team prepares for its fifth World Cup appearance.

Group L Schedule

Ghana faces a challenging path in the group stages, having been drawn into Group L. The Black Stars’ schedule is as follows:

- June 17: vs. Panama (Opening Match)

- June 23: vs. England

- June 27: vs. Croatia

The technical team will be monitoring Kudus’ rehabilitation closely in the coming weeks to determine if the playmaker can feature in these critical fixtures.