Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, a former Ghana international, wants foreign-born players to be evaluated in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before being considered for the World Cup in Qatar later that year.
The ex-Udinese enforcer wants the newcomers to put their skills to the test in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Cote D’Ivoire in 2023.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is pursuing Tariq Lamptey of Brighton, Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal, and Atletic Bilbao siblings Inaki and Nicholas Williams of Athletic Bilbao for a nationality swap.
While Arsenal youngster Eddie Nketiah has been linked with a move to Ghana, the FA has so far been unsuccessful in luring Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey and the Spain-based pair.
However, Ghanaian international Agyemang-Badu, who has 78 caps, wants the new foreign-born players to be evaluated on African soil before making the massive step to the World Cup.
“We should not rush and call players just because of the World Cup and lose them after,” he said, in an interview on the Sports Pack1 show on Accra-based Max 89.7 FM.
“Those who wouldn’t have any problem switching nationality must be ready for the 2023 Afcon qualifiers so they get familiar with the terrain.
“It shouldn’t be that the player plays the World Cup and that’s it.”
Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu is also on the wishlist of the FA though the centre-back has been reluctant to commit his international future to Ghana.
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