Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Chairman, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has urged Black Stars coach Otto Addo to avoid selecting players who previously rejected invitations to represent Ghana but are now seeking to join the team following the nation’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to Graphic Sports last Saturday, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe stressed that while the team urgently needs strengthening ahead of the World Cup, loyalty must remain a key criterion in player selection.
He insisted that players who turned down national call-ups during crucial qualifiers should not be considered again.
According to the Hearts of Oak board member, the Black Stars’ current performance is far from inspiring, and an infusion of fresh talent is necessary if Ghana hopes to make an impact on the world stage.
He believes many members of the present squad lack the quality required for a tournament as demanding as the World Cup.
“We are going to play at the highest stage of football, and if the country wants to progress, then most of the boys who brought us to where we are today are not good players,” he said.
“If there are other experienced footballers, we should look for the best that will take us to the World Cup.”
Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe encouraged the technical team to cast their net wide in scouting, noting that Ghana has a deep pool of football talent scattered across the globe.
He said any player who has never received an invitation should be given the chance to justify himself, but those who previously declined to represent the country should be ruled out, describing them as “opportunists.”
“Those who initially turned down invitations should not be invited at all, but those who have never been invited must be given the opportunity to come and play,” he stressed.
The former GFA boss added that he finds it difficult to understand why a player who once rejected the national team would suddenly declare love for Ghana only after the Black Stars secured World Cup qualification.
Highlighting the intense level of competition at the tournament, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe emphasised the need for top-quality players who can match the standards of footballing powerhouses from Europe and South America.
“We should look for the best all over the world because it’s a World Cup and not just any ordinary tournament. Look at the class of footballers in Europe and Latin America—we need quality that can match them,” he concluded.
