Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus is celebrating after being awarded the Goal of the Year at the Ghana Football Awards on Saturday. The West Ham United attacking midfielder received the accolade for his spectacular solo goal against Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League, triumphing over competition from Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Aziz Issah, and Salim Adams.
At the awards ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Center, Kudus took the opportunity to express his gratitude to those who supported him throughout the season. “First of all, I would like to thank each and every one of you that put in the effort to make sure that this amazing event happened today,” the 23-year-old said.
Kudus also acknowledged the efforts of his fellow nominees and emphasized that the award was a reflection of hard work and dedication. “I'm happy to be awarded the Goal of the Year, but congrats to all the nominees because I think everyone put in their effort. And this is a testament of hard work and dedication,” he stated.
He concluded by extending his thanks to his teammates, the team around him, and his family for their unwavering support. “Big congrats to all my teammates for the support and all the team around me and my family,” Kudus added.
The Black Queens of Ghana will begin their training camp in Accra on Tuesday, July 2, in preparation for an international friendly against Japan. As previously reported by Footballghana in June, this match is part of the team’s build-up for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament.
According to a statement from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over the weekend, Coach Nora Häuptle has named a squad of 33 players for the Japan encounter. “Black Queens Coach, Nora Häuptle has invited 33 players to camp in Accra in readiness for the forthcoming international friendly against Japan,” the GFA statement announced.
The squad features notable players including Princess Marfo from Bay FC, Luton FC defender Bridget Adu, and Mukarama Abdulai, the former FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot winner. Other players called up are Wasila Diwura Soale, Nina Norshie, Mavis Owusu, Adama Alhassan, and Victoria Osei.
All invited players are expected to report to camp in Accra on Tuesday, July 2. The highly-anticipated friendly match between Japan and Ghana is scheduled to take place at the Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday, July 13.
Ghanaian attacker Ibrahim Osman has described his first call-up to the Black Stars as a surreal experience. After an impressive stint with Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, Osman earned a spot in the national team squad for friendly matches against Nigeria and Uganda in March.
Reflecting on his debut, Osman admitted he was initially nervous but soon came to appreciate the significance of the moment. “I was quite nervous but people have been telling me ‘you’ll play at [in] the national team’ so I wasn’t really sure about it," Osman told 3Sports. “So when I got there that was when I realized that, it was real. I am on the national team. 19-year-old at the national team it was crazy,” he added.
In addition to his debut, Osman was also included in the Black Stars' squad for their back-to-back victories against Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Osman’s standout season with FC Nordsjaelland, where he scored six goals and provided seven assists in 29 league appearances, garnered attention from top European clubs. Ultimately, he chose to join Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, where he will reunite with fellow Ghanaian Tariq Lamptey.
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Ghana international Mohammed Kudus is optimistic that his impressive debut season with West Ham United marks the start of even greater achievements.
Since joining West Ham from Ajax last summer, Kudus has made a significant impact, establishing himself as a key player for the team. In the past season, he scored eight goals and provided six assists in the Premier League, while also netting five goals in the Europa League.
After being named Player of the Year at the 2024 Ghana Football Awards, Kudus reflected on his debut season and shared his excitement for the future. “Personally, before I even took the step I knew I was ready for the challenge that’s why I went for it, and once I was ready I knew what I expected from myself. Big ups to all the teammates and the people around my club, they really helped me to settle,” Kudus said.
He continued to express his belief that there is much more to come. “I put in the effort day in day out. It’s a difficult league, tough games but I still believe that I’m far from my abilities. It’s just the beginning and it was good to announce myself in the first season. I know it’s going to get much tougher now and I’m prepared for it,” he added.
Kudus’s stellar performances have drawn the interest of several clubs, highlighting the significant impact he made in his debut season.
