Former Ghana international Derek Boateng has weighed in on the ongoing debate about including players of Ghanaian descent in the Black Stars’ squad for the upcoming World Cup, expressing strong opposition to calls for bringing in such talent.
While some believe that players like England internationals Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi could strengthen Ghana’s squad and boost their chances at the Mundial, Boateng disagrees. Speaking on SportyFM, the ex-Black Stars midfielder, who represented Ghana in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, argued that including the duo would be unfair and disruptive.
“I feel like those players, they should not call them. They should not invite them. Odoi and Nketiah, no. I don’t think it’s fair,” Boateng said, emphasizing that their presence would not add value to the team. “They will not add nothing. They will not add nothing. They should not call them. It’s not fair. Because look, football is teamwork. Bringing them will create a lot of chaos in the national team and a lot of trouble.”
Boateng further explained that team cohesion and morale could be compromised if players who have contributed to the qualification process feel overlooked. “If you are my friend and they didn’t invite you, and you’ve been playing the qualification, I will not be happy to go there and perform or anything. I’ll have something inside me against those players. So, I feel like, and for me, I’ll say they should not invite them.”
With about six months remaining until the tournament, the debate over dual-nationality players continues. Ghana has already secured at least $10.5 million for qualifying, while the overall World Cup winner stands to receive $50 million, highlighting the high stakes involved.
Boateng’s comments add a veteran perspective to a heated discussion on team selection, raising questions about the balance between talent acquisition and maintaining squad harmony.
