Former Ghana youth international Najeeb Yakubu has accused Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku of undermining his national team career after he declined an opportunity to join Okraku’s club, Dreams FC.
Najeeb, now representing Niger, featured in their 2-1 victory over the Black Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, November 18, 2024. However, the talented defender claims his Ghanaian national team aspirations were derailed in 2021 under controversial circumstances.
Yakubu alleges that during his time with the Ghana U-23 squad, preparing for a friendly tournament in Japan, his passport was deliberately omitted from the list submitted for visa processing. This omission, according to Yakubu, stemmed from an order by the GFA President.
Speaking on Prime Take with Muftawu Nabila on Joy News, Yakubu said:
“I think it’s the GFA President, Kurt [Okraku], who removed my name from the U-23 squad traveling to Japan in 2021 for the friendlies. I believe he has a personal problem with me.”
He further explained: “When I was in the U-17 team, he wanted me to join his team, Dreams FC. Unfortunately, I couldn’t join his team, and he took it personally.”
Yakubu first rose to prominence representing Ghana at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, starting in all five matches as Ghana advanced to the quarterfinals. Despite his early success, the Madina-born defender was never called up to any national team again following the alleged passport incident.
In 2022, Yakubu officially switched allegiance to Niger, marking a new chapter in his international career. His recent performance against the Black Stars underscores what Ghana may have lost due to this fallout.
