Former Ghana international Sam Johnson has called for a more competitive local league to push players vying for places on the Black Stars squad to elevate their game.
Ghana’s recent performances have raised concerns, with the Black Stars sitting third in Group F after four AFCON qualifying matches and only two points on the board. This situation has jeopardized their chances of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and led to widespread criticism.
In an interview with Graphic Sports, Johnson raised questions about the transparency of player selection for the national team, suggesting that some current players may have grown complacent without pressure from local league talents. “We need to ask, what criteria do we use to select players? Some of them don’t feel any pressure because there’s no competition from local players. When there’s no threat to their positions, they get complacent,” he observed.
Johnson, who formerly played and coached at Accra Hearts of Oak, believes a stronger local league could produce players capable of challenging for national team positions, pushing current Black Stars players to perform at a higher level. “We must build a strong local side that gives national team players tough competition. When they know their place is at risk, they’ll step up their game,” he explained.
To qualify for AFCON, Ghana must defeat Angola, who have already secured their place, in Luanda, and beat Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium. They will also need Sudan to lose their remaining games.
