Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams says the Black Stars must present the strongest possible squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whether the players come from the Ghana Premier League or abroad.
His comments come at a time when several foreign-born players who previously declined call-ups are reportedly reconsidering their stance following Ghana’s qualification.
Speaking on the issue, the Minister stressed that the national team should be built strictly on merit, not sentiment.
Good and great players should not be left out anywhere they find themselves, whether they are local or foreign.
We are not going for this World Cup just to participate and come home. That’s why we must assemble our best.
Kofi Adams also cautioned against selecting players solely because they play in the domestic league, insisting that talent and performance must remain the primary criteria.
According to him, Ghana must intentionally invest in retaining homegrown players instead of losing them immediately to foreign clubs.
If all we do is allow our best local players to leave at the first opportunity, then we cannot build a strong local base and we must be intentional about keeping good and skillful players here too.
The Minister further assured that government support will extend beyond football to other sporting disciplines, although he admits that football remains the most financially demanding.
“We will support all sports, not only football. But football is really expensive and brings a lot of pressure on every minister so we will do our best to improve the local league so we can produce players who will excel.
All attention now shifts to December 4, when Ghana is expected to take the next major step in its World Cup preparations.
