Michail Antonio makes honest admission about West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus

Michail Antonio has admitted Mohammed Kudus and Ghana must "do more" for his West Ham United teammate to become African Footballer of the Year.

Antonio, speaking on Joy News [via Ghana SoccerNet, 15 November], has assessed Kudus' chances of winning the accolade before Ghana officially failed to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations.

The veteran striker is currently on international duty with Jamaica while Kudus is with Ghana after the latter was hit with a five-match ban for violent conduct against Tottenham.

"With Mo's talent, there’s a 100% chance that he can win," he said. "Obviously, there are some great potentials there. There’s [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, Mo Salah, [Sadio] Mane, and there’s definitely Kudus - I believe he has the talent to do it."

"It’s just he needs the surroundings of his team to help him to do it, and right now, Ghana aren't at that quality. Ghana has a quality history, but right now, they’re not doing as well as they feel like they should be doing.

"For him to achieve the award, I feel he and Ghana, as a team, have to do more for that to happen."

Mohammed Kudus fails huge task with Ghana

Kudus was named in the starting XI for Ghana for the must-win contest against Angola [15 November] in their AFCON qualifying match.

He played the full game as his nation fell short with a 1-1 draw, meaning shockingly, they will not feature at the 2025 tournament hosted in Morocco.

The qualifiers have been dismal for the Black Stars, without a win from five games which renders their match against Niger on 18 November redundant from their perspective, having appeared at the last 10 tournaments.

The international exploits of Kudus all appeared to become too much when he was back in a Hammers shirt for the short trip to Spurs on 19 October, and he is now in the ban which keeps him out of domestic action until December.

Antonio is also another key man Julen Lopetegui will pray comes through international duty unscathed, and luckily he was banned for the first of two CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final legs against the USA with Jamaica.

The Irons need positive change and fast, with Kudus' return essential, regardless of his form.

In other West Ham news, the club were reportedly offered the chance to sign an international striker in the summer.

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