De Zerbi raises Mohammed Kudus fitness concerns ahead of Ghana’s AFCON qualifiers

Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Roberto De Zerbi has expressed concerns about the fitness level of midfielder Mohammed Kudus ahead of Ghana's upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Kudus, who has been out of action since January 2026 due to a lengthy injury, has made only three substitute appearances since his return to competitive football.

Despite this, De Zerbi believes that Kudus is not yet at the physical condition needed to perform at his best. The 25-year-old Ghanaian has gradually returned to action, making his comeback late last month against Newcastle United and later featuring as a substitute in Tottenham's matches against Nottingham Forest and Everton. De Zerbi has included Kudus among other players who are still not in the best physical condition, particularly in the context of Tottenham's upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool.

Despite these doubts, De Zerbi remains optimistic about Kudus' importance to his plans and believes the player can provide an attacking threat once he regains full fitness. Kudus is versatile and can play as a number 10, a role that De Zerbi is keen to exploit. The Ghanaian will continue his gradual return to match fitness with Tottenham, and his involvement is expected to increase as he improves.

Kudus' condition will be closely monitored, especially in relation to Ghana's preparations for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, which begin later this month against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. Kudus missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury, making his return crucial for the national team. However, De Zerbi's comments suggest that Ghana may have to wait before Kudus is fully fit to contribute meaningfully for both Tottenham and Ghana.