Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has disclosed that several foreign-born players have turned down opportunities to represent Ghana since 2021, despite continuous efforts from the national team’s technical staff.
His remarks follow reports that Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah are considering switching allegiance to play for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to 3Sports after leading Ghana to qualification for the tournament, Addo cautioned that players who previously ignored invitations should not expect an automatic spot in the squad now that the Black Stars have booked their ticket to North America.
“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.”
The German-born tactician, who has now guided Ghana to consecutive World Cup appearances, emphasised that loyalty and commitment will remain central to his selection decisions.
“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,” he added.
The Black Stars will discover their group-stage opponents on December 5, 2025, when the official World Cup draw takes place in Washington, D.C.
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