Former Ghanaian defender Sam Johnson has suggested that local players be prioritized for Ghana's final matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
The Black Stars will conclude their qualifying campaign with a match against Angola's Palancas Negras in Luanda before hosting Niger’s Super Eagles at Accra Sports Stadium.
Ahead of these critical games, the former Hearts of Oak and Fenerbahçe left-back emphasized the need to leverage this opportunity to feature home-based players. Johnson believes that exposing local players to high-stakes international competition would be beneficial for their development and confidence in future tournaments.
“I really want the local guys to go and play in these last AFCON matches,” Johnson told Graphic Sports. “We could bring in local players and add a few foreign-based ones to give them exposure. It will help build their confidence and morale.”
However, despite his support for local talent, Johnson expressed concerns about the current level of the players in Ghana's domestic league. He admitted that the declining standards make it difficult to identify players ready for international competition.
“The question is, which of these players would you invite? Based on what I’ve seen, I’m not confident. Our league’s standard is low, and you can’t call up these players if we want to avoid heavy losses,” John remarked.
Johnson also lamented the dwindling appeal of the domestic league, noting the poor attendance at games, even for popular clubs like Hearts of Oak, which struggle to fill stadiums.
“With the local league, people aren’t motivated to watch. Even Hearts of Oak supporters aren’t attending matches. When was the last time you saw Accra Sports Stadium full, apart from Black Stars games?” Johnson asked.
Meanwhile, head coach Otto Addo is expected to announce his squad for the upcoming games later this week.
Ghana currently sits in third place in Group F, with only two points from four games, trailing both Angola and Sudan. The Black Stars’ chances of qualifying rest on Sudan losing their final two matches.
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