West Ham Forward Kudus Eager for AFCON 2023 as Ghana Aims for Redemption
As the highly anticipated 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) unfolds in the Ivory Coast, West Ham United forward, Kudus, emerges as one of the tournament’s top-rated players.
Positioned in Group B alongside Egypt, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, the Ghanaian national team, known as the Black Stars, harbors ambitions of surpassing their previous performance, where they faced a disappointing exit in the group stage.
The 23-year-old striker, who was absent during the last edition in Cameroon, expressed his excitement and anticipation for the upcoming tournament. In a message to Ghanaian fans during a photo shoot with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Kudus conveyed,
“Hi Ghanaian fans, I’m happy to be here. And I can’t wait for the tournament to start. Let’s go Ghana.”
The Black Stars, armed with their highly valued squad, are determined to make a lasting impact in the AFCON. According to a compilation by the UK’s Bettingsites.co.uk, Ghana enters the competition with the fifth most valuable squad. The assessment of players’ market values across all 24 participating teams reveals that Nigeria leads the pack with a squad valued at €349 million, prominently influenced by the substantial transfer value of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen’s staggering market value of €110 million surpasses the combined values of 14 competing teams in the AFCON. As Ghana embarks on its campaign in the Ivory Coast, the significant value of their squad underscores the caliber of talent within the Black Stars and heightens expectations for a noteworthy performance in the tournament.
With Kudus leading the charge and a squad poised to make a mark, the AFCON 2023 promises to be a thrilling spectacle for Ghanaian football enthusiasts, as the Black Stars aim to overcome past setbacks and strive for success on the continental stage.