Ghana's star player, Mohammed Kudus, may miss the opening game against Cape Verde in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old forward experienced tightness in his hamstring after West Ham's 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The Premier League conducted an assessment, alerting the Ghana Football Association (GFA) about the injury, a fact confirmed by coach Chris Hughton during the press conference for the squad announcement last week.

Kudus, who was anticipated to join the team earlier, now requires an additional 5-6 days for full recovery.

Currently in Ghana, Kudus is receiving round-the-clock physiotherapy to aid his recuperation.

His inclusion in Ghana's travel to Ivory Coast for the AFCON will be determined as he works toward regaining full fitness.

The decision on whether to risk Kudus in the opening match against Cape Verde rests with coach Hughton, considering the player won't be at 100% fitness after missing a portion of the training camp and the friendly against Namibia.

Speaking on the matter, Hughton confirmed Kudus' imminent arrival, stating, "As for [Mohammed] Kudus, we were in touch with him and his club; he will join us tomorrow."

Kudus, who missed the 2021 AFCON due to a rib fracture, is eager to make his tournament debut for the Black Stars. His previous hamstring injury in April 2023, during his time at Ajax, sidelined him for four games.

Ghana, positioned in Group B alongside AFCON record winners Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, will aim for a strong start in the competition.

The tournament kicks off on January 13, 2024, and runs until February 11, 2024.