International Round-Up: Kudus scores again in Ghana win

Mohammed Kudus was on target for the second time in September’s international window as Ghana defeated Liberia in an international friendly on Tuesday night.

Fresh from netting in the Black Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic last week, the West Ham United summer signing was at it again in Accra, helping his country to a 3-1 win.

The score was locked at 0-0 at half-time, but Ghana took the contest away from their visitors in the second period, with Ernest Nuamah breaking the deadlock on 52 minutes.

Kudus then added his team’s second, before Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew scored a third, meaning Liberia’s late reply was nothing more than a consolation.

Kudus now has nine goals from his 26 international caps.

Elsewhere, Saïd Benrahma started in Algeria’s 1-0 friendly victory away at Senegal.

The Irons forward was part of a front three in Diamniadio, where Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Farés Chaibi scored the winning goal with 64 minutes on the clock.

Like Kudus and Ghana, Algeria’s attentions will now turn to January’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast.

Nayef Aguerd’s Morocoo returned to action following the tragic earthquake suffered in the country last week, defeating Burkina Faso 1-0 in a friendly in Lens, France.

Aguerd played the 90 minutes in the centre of defence alongside former Wolves man Romain Saïss, as his nation kept a clean sheet, ensuring Azzedine Ounahi’s first half goal was enough for victory.

Maxwel Cornet, meanwhile, was among the substitutes for Ivory Coast’s friendly against Mali in Abidjan. However, that match was abandoned due to weather issues at half-time with the score at 0-0.

Switching continents, Edson Álvarez’s Mexico were in action for a friendly against Uzbekistan in Atlanta, USA.

Álvarez played an hour, winning his 71st cap for El Tri, as they drew an entertaining contest 3-3.

Raúl Jiménez gave Mexico an early lead, only for Uzbekistan to score twice to leave Álvarez’s side chasing the game.

They did so successfully, and looked to have won the contest when they notched twice inside the final ten minutes through Jiménez again and Uriel Antuna, but Uzbekistan found a stoppage time leveller to ensure the spoils would be shared.

Finally, Alphonse Areola was an unused substitute as France were defeated 2-1 by Germany in a friendly.