Ghana defender Baba Rahman has opened up about his decision to take a break from international duty with the Black Stars, clarifying that his absence is rooted in his injury history, not the boos he received during his last appearance for the national team.
In May 2024, head coach Otto Addo explained that Rahman’s decision to step away was influenced by the emotional impact of the boos during his last match. Rahman, however, emphasized that his choice was primarily focused on regaining his fitness after a difficult spell with injuries.
“It’s a personal decision to take a break from the national team to concentrate on my fitness because I’ve not had a good time with injuries,” Rahman told BBC Sport Africa. “When I joined PAOK last year, I thought it was wise to take a step back from international football to focus on getting my fitness back.”
Despite frequent requests from fans for his return to the Black Stars, Rahman stressed that his health remains his top priority. “I need to take care of my health before anything else,” he added. “People know my injury history, and it’s been a challenging few years. I just want to enjoy my club football again, and once I’m fully fit, I know my international career will resume.”
Rahman, who spent 999 days on the sidelines between 2017 and 2020 due to multiple injuries, including two ACL tears, made his return for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and 2022 World Cup, but both campaigns ended prematurely for the Black Stars.
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