Ghanaian football legend Mohammed Polo has offered a word of caution to rising star Mohammed Kudus regarding the Black Stars' iconic number 10 jersey, referencing the challenges it has historically posed for previous players.
Kudus was recently given the number 10 shirt ahead of Ghana’s upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Sudan. While this assignment signals his growing importance within the team, Polo, a 1982 AFCON winner, highlighted the potential difficulties associated with the jersey.
One significant example Polo pointed to was Kwadwo Asamoah, who experienced unsettling dreams and performance issues while wearing the number 10 jersey during his time with the Black Stars. In a recent interview with Connect FM, Polo advised Kudus to think carefully about donning the number, especially if he isn’t spiritually prepared to deal with the challenges it may bring.
"We all remember what Kwadwo Asamoah said about wearing the number 10 shirt, the dreams he had and the struggles on the field. If Kudus is not strong spiritually, he should return to his number 20 jersey because there is a lot that comes with the number 10,” Polo stated.
The Black Stars recently faced a challenging run in their AFCON qualifiers, being held to a goalless draw against Sudan in Accra before suffering a 2-0 defeat in the return match. With four matches played, Ghana currently sits in third place in Group F with two points, trailing Sudan, which has seven points, and Angola, who tops the group with twelve.
As the Black Stars prepare to face Angola away and host Niger in their final group matches in November 2024, Kudus will likely be a key figure. However, Polo's cautionary advice serves as a reminder of the pressure and expectations tied to the number 10 jersey, both on and off the field.
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