Former Ghanaian footballer, Augustine Ahinful, has expressed doubts about the readiness of local players to compete for a spot in the senior national team, the Black Stars.
This debate comes at a time when there is a lot of discussion about the composition of the Black Stars and whether domestic players should have more representation in the squad. Some have suggested that the new coaching staff should consider a combination of local and foreign-based players.
However, Ahinful has advised against overlooking the importance of foreign-based players in the team. He believes that their experience and exposure to higher levels of competition provide a significant advantage to the Black Stars.
While acknowledging that there is talent among local players, Ahinful emphasized the need for a balanced team that includes players from both local and foreign leagues. He pointed to the disappointing performance of the local Black Stars at the recent Championship of Africa Nations (CHAN) tournament in Algeria as evidence of the challenges faced by domestic players.
Ghana failed to progress beyond the group stage in the tournament, leading Ahinful to question whether local players are ready to compete at the highest level without the support of more experienced teammates.
As the Black Stars prepare for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic later in June, the debate around the composition of the squad is likely to continue.
