2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Razak Simpon's Black Stars call up long overdue, says Nations FC coach Kasim Mingle

Nations Football Club head coach, Kassim Mingle Ocansey, has praised Razak Simpson for his maiden Black Stars, saying it is well-deserved and long overdue.

The central defender who has been a livewire for the Ghana Premier League has been named in Otto Addo's 25-man squad for the final games of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Mingle expressed his excitement about the selection, noting that Razak Simpson’s solid form has made him a standout player in the league.

“He [Razak Simpson] deserves it. His call-up to the Black Stars is long overdue," he said.

"We are building a team so any player who is not available, we will have a replacement for them,” he added.

The Nations FC centre-back is one of only three players from the Ghana Premier League selected for the upcoming qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

Simpson reported to the Black Stars camp on Monday and trained for the first time at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The team will continue their training session today before they depart for Luanda on Wednesday. Ghana is aiming to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco against all odds after a torrid start.

They will face Angola on November 15 at the Estádio 11 de Novembro, followed by a home match against Niger Republic three days later.

The Black Stars currently sit in third place in Group F, with only two points from their four matches, trailing both Palancas Negras and Sudan.