2 years ago
The once acclaimed home and Giants of African football and future house of the sport in African has lost it's status in African football.
The four times African champions fail to make it pass the group stage for the first time in their history picking just one point from this stage and losing to debutant Comoros Islands.
Their double header fixture against Nigeria for a spot in the upcoming world cup at Qatar ended with a disappointing draw in their home despite the change of management.
Ghana has been blessed by talented players both locally and abroad, although the local players are usually undermined when it comes to handing out call-ups.
A lot of the internal based players however turns down the national call ups as they aspire to represent european countries for reasons being the monitory aspect.
below are a list of Ghanaian players who could have made a difference in the Ghana national team but has rejected call ups to represent their country of origin.
to start with,
recently under coach CK Akonnor, Belgium-based players Jeremy Doku and Francis Amuzu rejected Ghana in favour of the Red Devils with Doku playing at the EUROS for the Belgium senior national team.
Amuzu is yet to get to be called to represent theBelgian national team, but the youngster has the call-up to play for the four time champions and West African giants and a force in African soccer.
With these players rejecting Ghana, one would have thought it would be the end of such happenings with the FA doing their best to get the best Ghanaian players abroad to put on the famous Ghana jersey but that is certainly not the case.
Recently, Ghana’s attempt to get players born or raised outside of the country has proved unsuccessful with majority of the players turning their backs on the country
the next in consideration is Mohammed Sualisu of Southamton Fc
The Ghanaian center-back who plays in the English Premier League for Southampton also rejected the chance to honor the Black Stars call-up not once but on countless occasions giving excuses such as not being ready for national team football. The 22-year-old played and excelled in the Spanish La Liga for Real Valladolid leading to his move to the St Mary’s side. With his commanding display at the back, Salisu has gradually become a very important figure at the Saints this season in the Premier League
Tarique Lamptey of Brighton And Hoves Albion has been an exception
A common Ghanaian name Tariq Lamptey, who one would expect to be playing for the three-time FIFA World Cup participants and the best performed African country at the 2010 edition in South Africa but that seemed to be not happening at least for any time soon.
Lamptey who rose from the ranks of the chelsea academy is now a regular starter in the Albion team and could have ended Ghana’s right-back woes but the young and talented player looks like one who won’t be making a decision to play for Ghana any time soon. He’s been touted for greatness due to his abilities and vision of the game and could take Ghana to the next level.
Kamal Sowah who plays for club Brugg joins the long list
The ex Leicester City player who came to the stardom following his move to Belgium Jupiler Pro League side Oud-Haverlee Leuven during the 2020-21 season has also turned down the Black Stars call-up as he looks unprepared to play for Ghana at the senior level. According to information available to us, the youngster was painfully dropped from Ghana’s U17 team in 2017 and the player has decided not to put on the Black Stars jersey thus rejecting call-ups to play for Ghana at the next AFCON in Cameroon and also in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Currently, the Ghanaian forward plays for Belgium giant Club Brugge and was a delight to watch throughout the team’s campaign in the UEFA Champions League. Sowah could’ve been a pivot and important addition to the Ghana squad and it is very sad losing such a player in trying times. Corruption and favouritism could be blamed for these circumstances.
With all these players rejecting Ghana call-up to represent the country, could it be the case of the Black Stars becoming very unpopular and unattractive to attract good players to represent the country? Or interference and corruption?
be the judge for yourself.
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