As Ghana’s hopes of fielding a full-strength squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup hang in the balance, a potentially game-changing intervention has emerged from an unexpected source.
Professor Liu Guangjun, a senior physician and seventh-generation inheritor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, is currently in Ghana. Following reports of Black Stars star player Mohammed Kudus suffering a fresh injury setback, Professor Liu has expressed readiness to offer his expertise to help the Tottenham Hotspur forward heal without undergoing surgery.
Kudus Faces Race Against Time
The 25-year-old Ghanaian international has been sidelined since January with a serious quad tendon injury sustained in a Premier League clash against Sunderland. After returning to partial team training last week, Kudus suffered a devastating relapse, with Tottenham Hotspur confirming he will now require further specialist review and potentially surgery.
If the attacking midfielder goes under the knife, recovery could take up to six months—effectively ruling him out of the World Cup, where Ghana is scheduled to face Panama, England, and Croatia in what already shapes as a daunting group stage.
The Surgical Risk
For elite footballers, quadriceps tendon surgery carries significant risk. “Players who are injured cannot undergo surgery; after the surgery, they are considered ‘graduated’ and can no longer play football,” a source familiar with traditional medicine approaches noted. This perspective highlights the career-threatening implications of invasive procedures for professional athletes whose explosiveness and agility depend on optimal tendon function.
A Seventh-Generation Healer’s Offer
Professor Liu Guangjun, whose family has practiced traditional Chinese medicine for seven generations, is an expert in using acupuncture and herbal medicine to treat musculoskeletal injuries. His arrival in Ghana has caught the attention of local intermediaries, with immediate communication established to explore treatment options for the injured star.
“Professor Liu Guangjun is an expert in traditional medicine and acupuncture. He can greatly help Ghana’s injured star Mohammed Kudus to heal permanently,” a representative confirmed.
The Science Behind the Solution
Acupuncture, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine practiced for over 2,000 years, has gained increasing recognition in Western sports medicine. The technique involves inserting superfine needles into specific points on the body to restore the free flow of “qi” (life-force energy) and blood wherever blockage occurs.
Scientific research has demonstrated acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating a wide range of sports-related injuries, including:
- Tendonitis and tendinopathy (including quadriceps tendon issues)
- Ligament sprains and muscle strains
- Inflammation and chronic pain conditions
- Recovery acceleration and improved mobility
Acupuncture stimulates nerves in muscles and tissues, releasing endorphins and neurohumoral factors that alter pain processing in the brain and spinal cord. It also reduces inflammation by promoting vascular and immune responses, while improving muscle stiffness and joint mobility by boosting local microcirculation.
Professional Sports Embrace TCM
The use of traditional Chinese medicine in professional sports is not without precedent. In 2009, the San Francisco Giants became the first Major League Baseball team to hire a full-time acupuncturist—and won the World Series the following year. NBA superstars Allan Houston and Shaquille O’Neal have both been known to use acupuncture to manage chronic pain.
In Ghana, traditional Chinese medicine has already gained a foothold. The China Traditional Herbal Hospital in Accra, established in 2012, successfully treats patients with acupuncture, cupping, acupressure, massage, and physiotherapy for conditions including strokes, arthritis, and osteopathic diseases.
What Acupuncture Could Offer Kudus
For an athlete with a quadriceps tendon injury, acupuncture offers several potential benefits:
- Pain reduction without reliance on anti-inflammatory medications
- Inflammation control through natural immune modulation
- Improved blood flow to the tendon, which naturally has limited vascular supply and heals slowly
- Accelerated tissue repair by stimulating the body’s healing cascade
- Avoidance of surgical risks, including the potential for chronic weakness or re-injury
Crucially, acupuncture can be administered while maintaining some level of conditioning activity, unlike surgery which requires extended immobilization.
Race Against Time
With Ghana having lost four consecutive matches in Kudus’ absence—a run that ultimately led to the dismissal of head coach Otto Addo—the urgency of finding a solution cannot be overstated. The Black Stars are currently without a permanent head coach and face a growing injury list that includes Mohammed Salisu, Ernest Nuamah, Francis Abu, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, and Abdul Mumin.
Professor Liu Guangjun’s intervention offers a potential alternative to the surgical route that could end Kudus’ World Cup dreams. As the Tottenham star faces “further specialist review,” the presence of a seventh-generation TCM healer in Ghana may provide the creative solution the Black Stars desperately need.
Next Steps
Communication channels have been established between Professor Liu Guangjun’s representatives and local intermediaries. Whether the Ghana Football Association or Tottenham Hotspur’s medical team will embrace this unconventional approach remains to be seen. With the World Cup fast approaching and Kudus’ career potentially at a crossroads, the coming days could prove decisive.
