Ghana’s Black Stars captain, Mohammed Kudus, has issued a public apology following the team’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The October 15 loss, played behind closed doors in Libya, has intensified frustration among Ghanaian football fans, many of whom have expressed their discontent on social media.
The match saw Sudan take control early, netting two goals within 10 minutes. Ahmed Hamed Mahmoud Mohamed and Mohamed Abdulrahman delivered the quick-fire strikes that shattered Ghana’s hopes of a much-needed victory. Despite high expectations, the Black Stars, led by coach Otto Addo, failed to rally a comeback, leaving fans deeply disappointed.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Kudus, who captained the team in the absence of regular captain Andre Dede Ayew and vice-captain Thomas Partey, issued an apology on behalf of the entire squad. In a statement titled “APOLOGY AND ASSURANCE GHANA VS SUDAN AFCON QUALIFIERS,” he expressed his regret over the team’s poor performances.
“As someone who captained the team in the two games, it is with great humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I issue this statement. On behalf of the entire team, I would like to extend our sincerest apologies to the people of Ghana for our recent performances against Sudan in Accra and Libya. Despite our utmost effort and dedication, the results did not reflect our aspirations or the pride we have in representing our beloved nation,” Kudus wrote.
He assured fans that the team is committed to learning from their mistakes and will work tirelessly to improve. “We want to assure Ghanaians that we are committed to learning from our mistakes, regrouping, and working tirelessly to restore the Black Stars to our former glory. We value the unwavering support and loyalty you’ve shown us, and we’re determined to make you proud once again.”
However, Kudus’ apology did little to soothe the anger of Ghanaian fans, many of whom took to social media to vent their frustrations. Some dismissed his statement, labelling it “useless” and calling for improved performances rather than apologies. “Bro, we don’t need an apology! You guys are just not good enough to don the Black Stars jersey. And for you, the least said about your selfish performance, the better,” one fan wrote.
— Mo Kuku (@KudusMohammedGH) October 16, 2024
