Use local players for final AFCON matches - Sam Johnson

Former Black Stars defender, Sam Johnson, has advised national team coach, Otto Addo, to rely heavily on local players for the remaining Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger. 

However, Johnson tempered his suggestion with doubts about the quality of talent in the local league, warning that the standard of play might not be sufficient to guarantee success.

Speaking in an interview with Graphic Sports, the former Fenerbahçe left-back stressed that with Ghana’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread, it would be wise to use the opportunity to test home-based players.

That, he said, would give them exposure to high-level continental competition and boost their confidence for future tournaments.

“I really want the local guys to go and play in these last AFCON matches,” Johnson stated. “We could bring in local players and add a few foreign-based ones to give them exposure. It will help build their confidence and morale.”

However, despite his enthusiasm for promoting local talent, Johnson expressed scepticism about the current pool of players. He admitted that the declining quality of the local league made it challenging to identify suitable candidates for the national team.

“The question is, which of these players would you invite? Based on what I’ve seen, I’m not confident. Our league’s standard is low, and you can’t call up these players if we want to avoid heavy losses,” John remarked.

The ex-international lamented the diminishing appeal of the local league, attributing poor patronage to the lack of quality performances. He noted that even clubs with large fan bases, such as Hearts of Oak, were struggling to draw crowds.

“With the local league, people aren’t motivated to watch. Even Hearts of Oak supporters aren’t attending matches. When was the last time you saw Accra Sports Stadium full, apart from Black Stars games?” Johnson asked.

The Ghana legend urged Coach Otto Addo to strike a balance between promoting local talent and ensuring the team remained competitive in the remaining AFCON qualifiers.

He warned that the current state of the local league posed a risk if the team relied solely on home-based players.