Foreign-Born Players Under Spotlight Ahead of Ghana’s World Cup Campaign
The president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has sent a message to warn players about their commitment level to Black Stars, making it known that only players who display loyalty, passion, and respect to the national team and Ghana as a whole will be selected to represent the motherland.
In his recent interview with 3Sports, Kurt Okraku talked about the confusion and debate on social media concerning the inclusion of foreign-born players in the Black Stars’ 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. Kurt Okraku made it clear that giving the chance to represent Ghana is not a right but a privilege, and with that, one must earn his spot through genuine dedication.
Kurt Okraku Warns Players Who Declined Past Call-Ups
“Players who have not shown enough commitment to the Ghanaian flag will not be part of us,” he said.
“There must be a good reason why a player is included in the travelling party. I want players who display high levels of dedication, passion, and respect for Ghana.”
Kurt Okraku’s comments come amid growing debate and discussions about whether players born abroad, some of whom have dual nationalities, should be prioritized ahead of locally developed talent.
The Ghana Football Association president’s words outline a renewed focus on attitude, national pride, and discipline ahead of the Black Stars’ major upcoming tournaments, of which the World Cup is the closest one. His message was directed to the major sectors in the national team, stressing that selecting players based on reputation or popularity is over.
He made it known that the technical team and the GFA leader should and would only consider players who fought for Ghana during the qualifiers with commitment both on and off the pitch. He believes talent alone cannot get the team anywhere, but professionalism and loyalty are major keys every Ghanaian player should have.
“As a leader, I don’t really care what anybody says. At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with me, and I am accountable for Ghana,” he said firmly.
His statement also touched on players who have previously rejected call-ups or shown disinterest in representing Ghana, warning that such actions will not be tolerated going forward.
“If we have approached you before and you turned us down, if you’ve shown a lack of respect or declined to play for Ghana in the past, count yourself out. It’s not going to happen,” Okraku added
The GFA president reaffirmed his vision of building a disciplined and united Black Stars team capable of restoring Ghana’s pride on the global stage. With the next World Cup qualifiers approaching, Okraku’s firm stance could influence future selection decisions and encourage greater commitment among both local and foreign-based players.
