Former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah, has called for the inclusion of home-based players in Ghana’s senior national football team.
His remarks come amidst increasing demands from football fans and stakeholders for the selection of Ghana Premier League (GPL) players in the Black Stars for national assignments.
According to Appiah, local talents have often been overlooked in favour of foreign-based players, a trend he believes should be reconsidered to allow deserving local players the opportunity to showcase their abilities on the international stage.
Speaking to the Parliamentary Select Committee, Appiah, who captained Ghana’s national team to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 2006, emphasised the need to give home-based players more opportunities.
“We have to give local players the chance and confidence to play for the national team. In our time, it seemed like certain players were untouchable, but we were constantly pushed by others, which made us perform at our best,” he said.
Appiah also highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between international and domestic talents in the squad. He recalled how, during the 2006 World Cup, home-based players like Kotoko’s Shilla Illiasu and Habib Mohammed stepped up and made a significant impact.
“When we went to the World Cup, Osei Kuffour, a top defender, played the first game against Italy, but in the second game against the Czech Republic, Shilla Illiasu from Kotoko stepped in and solidified the defence. He was brilliant. Habib Mohammed also made his mark. Back then, there was real competition in the team, unlike today, where some players feel comfortable and assured of their place, whether they perform or not.”
Appiah's comments come in the wake of an ongoing inquiry into a petition submitted by the Save Ghana Football Forum earlier this year, which raised concerns about the leadership and performance of the national team.
Latest Stories
-
Queenmother calls on President-elect Mahama to appoint more women in his government
4 minutes -
Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona to go top of La Liga
22 minutes -
Usyk breaks Fury’s heart with points win in rematch
24 minutes -
Ghana-Russia Centre to run Russian language courses in Ghana
6 hours -
The Hidden Costs of Hunger: How food insecurity undermines mental and physical health in the U.S.
6 hours -
18plus4NDC marks 3rd anniversary with victory celebration in Accra
9 hours -
CREMA workshop highlights collaborative efforts to sustain Akata Lagoon
9 hours -
2024/25 Ghana League: Heart of Lions remain top with win over Basake Holy Stars
10 hours -
Black Queens: Nora Hauptle shares cryptic WAFCON preparation message amid future uncertainty
11 hours -
Re-declaration of parliamentary results affront to our democracy – Joyce Bawah
11 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Vision FC score late to deny Young Apostles third home win
11 hours -
Enhancing community initiatives for coastal resilience: Insights from Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site Workshop
11 hours -
Family Health University College earns a Presidential Charter
11 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Bibiani GoldStars beat Nsoatreman to keep title race alive
11 hours -
GPL 2024/25 Bechem United keep title hopes alive with narrow win over FC Samartex
12 hours