Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Okraku, has vowed to block any attempt to hand call-ups to diaspora players who have shown “lack of respect” to the Black Stars as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
The men’s senior national team booked their ticket to the FIFA World Cup after defeating Comoros to seal qualification for the 2026 global showpiece – their fifth appearance in history.
The qualification has reignited debates over whether the national team should open its doors to foreign-born players yet to fully commit to Ghana.
Eddie Nketiah, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Francis Amuzu are among the players who have now made themselves available for selection for the tournament.
“Players who have not shown enough commitment to the Ghanaian flag will not be part of us,” Kurt said in an interview with 3Sports.
“There must be a good reason why a player is included in the travelling party. I want players who display high levels of dedication, passion, and respect for Ghana.”
“As a leader, I don’t really care what anybody says. At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with me, and I am accountable for Ghana. If we have approached you before and you turned us down, if you’ve shown a lack of respect or declined to play for Ghana in the past, count yourself out. It’s not going to happen.”
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set for December 5 in Washington, where Ghana will learn their group-stage opponents.
Meanwhile, Otto Addo is expected to lead the Black Stars as they embark on their Asian tour in November, featuring friendly matches against Japan and South Korea as part of preparations for the World Cup.