Gospel artiste Sonnie Badu has criticized the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for allowing Mohammed Kudus to wear the No. 10 jersey for the Black Stars.
The iconic number was assigned to Kudus during Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in October and November 2024. This occurred after Ghana coach Otto Addo excluded Andre Ayew from the squad.
The decision sparked backlash, with fans suggesting Kudus’ struggles on the pitch were partly due to the weight of the jersey.
Badu echoed these sentiments during an interview on UTV, expressing his disappointment with the GFA’s decision.
According to Badu, the No. 10 jersey carries significant respect and should not be handed to just any player. He also described the transition of the jersey from Andre Ayew to Kudus as disrespectful.
“Now he’s wearing the No. 10. Maybe people will brush it off, but the No. 10 jersey isn’t worn by just any player. After Abedi [Pele], it went to Stephen Appiah, then to Dede [Andre Ayew]. I even feel the way they transitioned it was disrespectful. If Dede hasn’t retired, you don’t give his jersey number to someone else,” he said.
Badu further cautioned the GFA against creating unnecessary competition among players, warning that it could lead to confusion and discord within the camp.
He also blamed Jordan Ayew’s recent poor performances on the situation.
“We should stop creating a competitive environment. Giving Kudus the No. 10 jersey and the captain’s armband in a crucial game where Jordan was playing meant Jordan wouldn’t perform at his best. That was a make-or-break game, but we caused confusion. Jordan wasn’t captain and had to watch his brother’s jersey being handed to another player,” he further stated.
Ghana ultimately failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing bottom of Group F with just three points from six games.
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