Afcon 2023: Mohammed Kudus 'can't explain' Ghana's late misery against Mozambique

Ghana midfielder Mohamed Kudus during the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Group B match between Egypt and Ghana at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in AbidjanGetty Images

Mohammed Kudus has seen Ghana let leads slip in group games against Egypt and Mozambique at the Afcon finals in Ivory Coast

By Ben Miller
BBC Sport Africa

Ghana forward Mohammed Kudus says the Black Stars "lost focus" in the late collapse against Mozambique which has left their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations ambitions hanging by a thread.

Chris Hughton's side were set to win 2-0 and advance in second spot in Group B, only to concede twice in added time and draw 2-2.

"We gave away two cheap goals," said Kudus, whose side must hope they are one of four best third-placed teams after finishing behind Cape Verde and Egypt.

"We lose concentration - it's too easy and it's very disappointing."

A place in the knock-out stage is still mathematically possible for Ghana but their tally of two points and a goal difference of -1 means they are heavily reliant on other results before the group stage finishes on Wednesday.

Defensive mistakes have blighted Ghana's campaign in Ivory Coast, with the four-time champions losing to a 92nd-minute Cape Verde goal in their opening game and spurning leads given to them by Kudus goals in their 2-2 draw against Egypt.

Ghana, ranked 50 places above Mozambique at 61st in the world, looked on course to go through on Monday thanks to Jordan Ayew penalties in either half at Abidjan's Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

However, Geny Catamo's 91st-minute penalty for Mozambique and Reinildo Mandava's headed equaliser three minutes later gave the Mambas a late point and put Ghana on the brink of elimination.

"We are up 2-0 in the last four minutes of the game - we can't lose two goals," said an emotional Kudus.

"We lost the [lead] by losing focus. It was the same against Egypt - some easy goals."

Ghana also suffered a group-stage exit at the 2021 finals, and their six-match wait for victory across the past two editions is the worst run in the West African nation's proud history.

West Ham man Kudus was too dejected to talk at length when he was presented with the player of the match award after the draw against Mozambique, managing only to thank Ghana's fans.

Asked whether he felt Hughton's players are capable of competing for their first title since 1982, Kudus said the Ghana squad "has the quality".

"We wouldn't be here if we didn't," the 23-year-old added. "It is not about quality or whatever.

"I can't even explain it. It's just a lack of concentration. In games like these, it's just small margins and little things.

"We need to keep our focus throughout the whole game. We need to learn from this and move on."

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