Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, a former Ghana midfielder, wants diaspora players to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, not just the World Cup.
Ghana has qualified for the 2022 World Cup for after defeating Nigeria in the play-off to secure a place in Qatar in November.
Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea, Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey of Brighton, Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal, and Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu of Southampton have all been targeted for the Mundial.
Nico Williams and Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao, as well as Dortmund youngster Ansgar Knauff, are all on Ghana’s list ahead of the largest soccer tournament in the world.
Eddie Nketiah, an Arsenal forward, recently expressed his desire to play for the Black Stars.
However, in an interview on the Sports Pack 1 show on Accra-based Max 89.7 FM, the former Udinese midfielder urged the Ghana FA not to push diaspora players into the national team merely because of the World Cup.
According to him, players who are willing to transfer nationalities for the World Cup must also be prepared to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in 2023.
“We should not rush and call players just because of the World Cup and lose them after. 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,” he said .
The Black Stars have been placed in World Cup Group H alongside European heavyweights Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea.
In Group H, the four-time African champions will face European powerhouse Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea.
They will begin their campaign on November 24 against Portugal, before facing South Korea in the second round on November 28 and Uruguay in the final round four days later.
Click below to watch the interview :
