Ghana coach Otto Addo has reaffirmed his belief that only players who truly value the Black Stars should wear the national colours.
His recent comment, that Ghana must “check the commitment of each player” to preserve unity, comes at a time when several foreign-born players are impressing at club level and reigniting talk of possible call-ups.
“I think Ghana should always have a certain pride, said Addo. As a country, we need to check the commitment of each player, which is very crucial because we have very good unity, and we definitely don’t want to destroy it by bringing players with no commitment.”
Among them is Callum Hudson-Odoi, the Nottingham Forest winger who has rediscovered form in the Premier League.
Once courted by Ghana but hesitant to switch allegiance, Hudson-Odoi now finds himself out of England’s picture and could still represent Ghana under FIFA’s eligibility rules.
His situation mirrors that of several dual-national players who once declined the Black Stars, only to see opportunities dry up elsewhere.
Otto Addo stresses commitment ahead of Ghana World Cup squad
Addo’s stance resonates across Africa. Countries like Nigeria, Senegal, and Morocco have faced similar challenges, watching players with African roots choose European nations for early exposure, then reconsider when those dreams fade.
While some switches, like Inaki Williams and Tariq Lamptey to Ghana, have worked, others have strained the balance between loyalty and ambition.
For Otto Addo, it’s a simple principle: pride before convenience. Ghana’s strength has always come from unity, and protecting that spirit is key ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Otto Addo also added “Whether local or foreign-based, I don’t care, once you’re Ghanaian, performing and committed , you deserve a call-up”
Players who once overlooked Ghana will find it difficult to make the squad to the global showpiece at the expense of those who fought for the ticket, even if they’re ready to walk through it with genuine commitment because at this time, it is not really needed.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
