Ghana head coach Otto Addo has issued a firm warning to foreign-born players seeking to join the Black Stars setup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that commitment, not convenience will determine selection.
Speaking to 3Sports following Ghana’s qualification for next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Addo disclosed that he has been in contact with several players eligible to represent Ghana since 2021, which some of whom declined or ignored the national team’s approaches.
“We will look at each case one by one. There are players I have been chasing since 2021, who didn’t reply to our calls or want to come," Addo said. "It’s a different thing if we haven’t approached you and now you want to come. But if we have been approaching you all the way and you said no, and now we are at the World Cup, so you want to come, that’s a different matter.”
His comments come amid speculation over renewed interest from dual nationals, including England-born pair Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah, who have both been previously linked with switches to Ghana.
Addo, who has now led the Black Stars to back-to-back World Cups, underlined that his priority is to maintain the team’s cohesion and ensure that only players who value the national cause are called up.
“I think Ghana should always have a certain pride. As a country, we need to check the commitment of each player. We have very good unity, and we don’t want to destroy it by bringing in players who don’t have commitment.”
By: Pascal Amoah
