Mohammed Kudus, the rising star at West Ham United, may not have made the shortlist for the African Footballer of the Year award this season, but for fellow Ghanaian and former professional Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kudus’ journey to continental glory is only beginning.

After a strong debut season with West Ham, where he notched 14 goals and six assists, Kudus seemed a promising candidate for the award. However, his omission from the final ten-man shortlist left fans and supporters wondering. Speaking with Sportsblog247.com, as reported by Modern Ghana, Agyemang-Badu shared a message of encouragement for the young midfielder.

“I hoped he’d make the list,” Agyemang-Badu admitted, “but there were so many exceptional talents in Africa this year.” However, he remains optimistic. “Kudus is still young and will have many chances to be crowned Africa’s best. All he needs to do is stay focused, keep learning, and continue growing,” he advised.

For Agyemang-Badu, Kudus’ potential is undeniable. “His time will come,” he added confidently. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”