Home-Based Players Deserve A Chance In The Black Stars – Stephen Appiah | Football/Soccer

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.