Following the Black Stars’ successful qualification, several reports have emerged about foreign-born players expressing interest in representing Ghana. However, Okraku insists that only players who have shown loyalty, respect, and passion for the national team will be welcomed.
In an exclusive interview with 3Sports, the GFA President said:
“Players who have not shown enough commitment to the Ghanaian flag will not be part of us. 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.”
Okraku stressed that as the leader of Ghanaian football, he will not compromise on the principles of commitment and pride in wearing the national jersey.
“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,” he noted.
“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.”
Ghana booked its place at the 2026 World Cup after a 1-0 victory over Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium, with Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus scoring the decisive goal in the 47th minute. The Black Stars’ qualification was confirmed even before the final whistle, following Madagascar’s 4-1 loss to Mali.
Ghana’s best-ever World Cup performance came in 2010, when the team reached the quarterfinals in South Africa, narrowly missing a semifinal spot after a heartbreaking defeat to Uruguay.
