Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew on fire as Kudus faces extended ban

After enduring a four-match goal drought that has virtually cost Ghana a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Black Stars forwards Inaki Williams and Jordan Ayew returned to scoring form over the weekend. 

On the other hand, Partey’s return to action raised eyebrows after he had missed Ghana’s critical AFCON qualifiers but made a quicker-than-expected recovery to feature for Arsenal last Saturday.

Unfortunately, Mohammed Kudus, West Ham’s rising star, suffered a major setback despite scoring in their 1-4 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

He received a straight red card after a VAR review, putting him out of action for up to six matches, possibly delaying his return until December.

Williams, who struggled to find the net for Ghana during crucial AFCON qualifiers against Angola, Niger and Sudan, inspired his Spanish side, Athletic Bilbao, to a resounding 4-1 victory over Espanyol in La Liga. Despite managing only one goal in 17 appearances for the Black Stars—scoring the winner against Madagascar—the striker has been in fine form for his club.

Williams bagged two goals in two minutes, netting in the 28th and 30th minutes after Dani Vivian had opened the scoring for Athletic Club in the sixth minute.

Similarly, Ayew, who has been one of the most hardworking forwards for the national team in recent matches, fired Leicester City to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium.

The Foxes trailed 2-0 at halftime, but Ayew -- who had scored the winning goal in Ghana’s 2-1 win over Mali in Bamako and a hat-trick in their thrilling 4-3 victory over the Central African Republic in Kumasi last month -- came off the bench to make the difference. In the 98th minute, he peeled away from his marker to connect with a corner and secure Leicester’s win.

“Massive three points, back-to-back wins, especially after the international break—it’s not easy,” Ayew remarked after scoring his first league goal for Leicester. “We fought, pushed ourselves, and got the three points. Hopefully, there’s more to come.”

Ayew’s Black Stars teammate, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, also played a pivotal role in Leicester’s win, coming off the bench to provide the assist for Facundo Buonanotte’s goal that ignited the comeback. Issahaku, who scored in Ghana’s nail-biting victory over the Central African Republic, has been going through a rough patch with the national team during the recent AFCON qualifiers.

A the Vitality Stadium, Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo missed several opportunities but still ended up on the winning side as Bournemouth stunned Arsenal 2-0 in the English Premier League.

Unfortunately for Black Stars midfield powerhouse Partey, he was on the losing side, featuring for Arsenal throughout the match.

The midfielder’s appearance stirred controversy, as he had been ruled unfit for Ghana’s double-header against Sudan, with the Ghana FA stating that the player refused to fly to Accra for examination.

Yet, he was deemed fit to play for Arsenal just days after Ghana’s 0-2 loss to Sudan, which all but ended the Black Stars' 2025 AFCON hopes.

For Kudus, he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines on suspension, after a VAR review overturned a yellow card, with the Ghanaian star receiving a straight red for striking Spurs players, Micky Van De Ven and Pape Sarr.

The talented midfielder who has been an influential player for the Hammers now faces an extended suspension that could see him miss up to six matches, including key fixtures against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Everton.

Former English Premier League referee, Mike Dean, speaking on Sky Sports, weighed in on the incident, saying, “Kudus could miss more games due to retrospective action.

He hit two players, and I think he’ll get done twice.” If Dean’s prediction holds, the midfielder may not return until West Ham’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 9.