Ghana's hopes for advancing to the round of 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were dashed in a disappointing turn of events against Mozambique, leaving star player Mohammed Kudus with a profound sense of disappointment.

Despite Jordan Ayew's successful conversion of two penalties, Ghana squandered a two-goal lead in the dying minutes of a crucial match, drawing 2-2 and exiting the tournament at the group stage for the second consecutive time.

Expressing his disappointment, Kudus stated, “We wanted to qualify but we couldn't. It's a big failure. It's a big failure on our part, and I feel disappointed.”

The frustration arose from a dramatic sequence of events, including Andre Ayew conceding a penalty that Mozambique capitalized on and a costly error by goalkeeper Richard Ofori leading to an equalizing goal from a corner kick.

Kudus stressed the importance of addressing and rectifying the mistakes that proved costly, stating, “We need to keep the focus and correct the silly mistakes going forward. Conceding two goals within four minutes is unacceptable.”

Ghana's attempt to secure the second-place position in Group B fell short, as the team has now been kicked out after failing to secure a place among the best third-placed sides.

The setback marks a second consecutive early exit for Ghana in AFCON tournaments, following their 2021 disappointment against Comoros.

Despite the team's overall struggles, Egypt managed to advance to the next round without securing a single victory, securing three draws.

Kudus, who played a pivotal role in Ghana's matches, finds himself grappling with the frustration of seeing his efforts in vain.