FC Samartex 1996’s head coach, Nurudeen Amadu, is calling on the technical team of the Black Stars to find a balance between foreign-based and homegrown talents as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic in June.
Amadu believes that the current overreliance on foreign players is sidelining the wealth of talent present in the Ghana Premier League. He expressed his concerns over the lack of opportunities for local players to showcase their skills at the national level, noting that many talented individuals within the domestic league are being overlooked by national selectors.
In particular, Amadu highlighted players such as Razak Simpson of Nations FC and Alhassan Mankuyeli of RTU as deserving of consideration for the Black Stars squad. He pointed out that these players, and others like them, have the potential to excel on the international stage if given the chance.
While acknowledging the discretion of the national team management in player selection, Amadu emphasized the importance of providing meaningful playing time for local talents. He cited the successful integration of local players alongside foreign-based players in teams like Madagascar as an example of how domestic talent can enhance a squad’s performance.
Amadu stressed that while foreign-based players can bring valuable experience and skill to the team, they may not always deliver as expected. Therefore, he believes that the technical team should take a closer look at the talent pool within Ghana to ensure that the best players are selected for the upcoming qualifiers.
“The national team handlers know what they are after, and you cannot force them to take a player but what I want to say is that not only our (Samartex) players but they must look at some local players to encourage them because sometimes the foreign ones who come don’t perform well,” Amadu told Graphic Sports.
