2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Black Stars selection will be based on quality, not league, says assistant coach Ibrahim Tanko

Interim Black Stars assistant coach Ibrahim Tanko says player selection for the national team will be based solely on quality and suitability, insisting that players will not be overlooked because of the league or country in which they compete.

The interim technical team, led by head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, is expected to announce its squad for Ghana's upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Somalia later this month.

Ahead of the crucial fixtures, Tanko, who also coaches Medeama SC, stressed that the priority was to identify players capable of strengthening the Black Stars, regardless of whether they play in the Ghana Premier League or abroad.

"There is no Ghana Premier League player or foreign player; we are looking at the best players that can help Ghana," Tanko said after Medeama's 1-1 draw with Asante Kotoko on Sunday.

"If there are 10 local players we think can help, then why not?" he added.

Ghana are scheduled to face Somalia in the first encounter on Thursday, November 12, with the return fixture set for November 16. Both matches are expected to be played in Ghana.

The Black Stars head into the double-header under pressure after losing their opening two Group C matches.

They began their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast in Bouaké before suffering a 4-2 home loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Those results have left Ghana bottom of Group C without a point, making the two matches against Somalia crucial to their hopes of reviving their qualification campaign.

The Black Stars are also seeking a return to the AFCON after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco following a disappointing qualifying campaign.

With their hopes of reaching the 2027 finals already under pressure, the technical team will be expected to assemble a squad capable of delivering positive results against Somalia.