2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Interim technical team must be bold and invite local players for Somalia games - Odartey Lamptey

Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey has urged the interim Black Stars technical team to show courage by including more locally based players in the squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Somalia.

Ghana are scheduled to face Somalia in a double-header later this month, with the interim technical team expected to announce its squad this week.

The team is being led by Kim Lars Björkegren, assisted by Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, with former Black Stars goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda serving as goalkeepers' trainer.

Speaking on Asempa FM's Ultimate Sports Show, Odartey Lamptey said the technical team's experience and familiarity with Ghanaian football should give them the confidence to hand opportunities to players in the domestic league.

"Godwin Attram has been with the team, while Kim Lars Björkegren has also been with the team before," he said.

"The experience of Ibrahim Tanko cannot be overlooked, and so if they feel they can include local players in the squad for the games, they should be bold and do that.

"During my time with the national team, we had more local players in the squad than players playing in Europe.

"They should not be scared about that decision; rather, they should be bold and make that decision," he added.

The former midfielder believes locally based players deserve an opportunity to prove themselves at the highest level, particularly as the Black Stars seek to revive their faltering AFCON qualification campaign.

Ghana will host Somalia in the first encounter on November 12 before the two sides meet again four days later, with both matches expected to be played in the country.

The Black Stars are under pressure to deliver after losing their opening two Group C matches, suffering a 2-0 defeat against Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké before falling 4-2 to The Gambia in Accra.

Those results have left Ghana bottom of the group without a point, making the upcoming fixtures crucial to their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 tournament.

Having missed out on the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, Ghana will be desperate to secure maximum points from the two matches against Somalia and put their qualification campaign back on track.