Local players lack quality to play for Black Stars - Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye says home-based players do not meet the criteria to play for the senior national team, the Black Stars.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare of Accra Hearts of Oak has been the most consistent locally based inclusion in the national team since last year.

However, Vanderpuye believes even the best performers in the domestic league fall short of international expectations.

In an interview with Citi Sports, he criticised the overall standard of the Ghana Premier League, likening the level of play to juvenile, “colts” football.

According to him, the gap between the domestic game and international football has widened significantly, leaving local players ill-prepared for the demands of senior national team duty.

Vanderpuye did not spare Asare, who was recently promoted to first-choice goalkeeper by former head coach Otto Addo, arguing that even the top talents continue to struggle with basic fundamentals.

“No local player has the quality to play for the Black Stars of Ghana. They play like Colts players. Even Benjamin Asare, whom we consider the best, has a lot of problems.”

His comments come at a time when the Ghana national football team is facing mounting scrutiny following a dramatic dip in form.

The team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and their slide to 74th in the latest FIFA rankings have intensified calls for sweeping reforms within the Ghana Football Association (GFA), particularly in the area of local player development.