It's the Coach's Call to Invite Eddie Nketiah" – Ghana FA President Kurt Okraku
Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku explicitly stated that the decision of inviting England-born forward Eddie Nketiah to join the national team or not lies squarely within the domain of the technical department of the Black Stars. While granting an interview, Okraku added that he was not endowed with the capability to invite players into the national team but it was left with the head coach and the deputy head coach.
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, who has Ghanaian ancestry, has long been in the sights of Ghana. Though he has played for England at various youth levels, Nketiah remains eligible to switch allegiance to Ghana at the senior level. He recently expressed a desire to play for the Black Stars, sparking new controversy among fans and experts about his chances of being included in upcoming call-ups.
But Okraku was quick to underscore the pecking order in the national team structure, where the selection of players is based on technical and tactical requirements analyzed by the technical team. "It's not my call," he declared categorically. "The technical team selects the player who fits their scheme. As president, it's my role to support them and ensure the team has all the requirements necessary to win."
The GFA president’s comments appear to be a move to avoid political interference in football matters and reinforce the autonomy of the coaching staff. With Otto Addo currently leading the Black Stars’ technical direction, the decision on Nketiah will likely be weighed alongside other strategic choices as the team prepares for upcoming qualifiers and tournaments.
While Nketiah's talent and Premier League experience make him a wanted candidate, his selection will be guided by factors of form, team cohesion, and tactical balance. The GFA focus, as highlighted by Okraku, remains the selection of a cohesive team with the potential to bring success at the international level.
With the discussion surrounding dual nationals mounting in African football, the case of Ghana becomes apparent: there is talent which can arrive, but the coach will always get the final call.
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It's the Coach's Call to Invite Eddie Nketiah" – Ghana FA President Kurt Okraku
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