Former Black Stars midfielder, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has insisted that Ghanaian players born abroad who are willing to switch nationality to play for the Black Stars must first show their commitment by playing in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers before the World Cup.
Following Ghana’s qualification to the Mundial in Qatar later this year, several players who ones turned down chance to play for the national team have confirmed their readiness to play for the West African country.
According to Agyemang Badu, who played in the 2014 global showpiece in Brazil, although he has no problem with that, any player that decides to make the switch should be ready to play in the AFCON qualifiers as well and not just at the world cup.
“We should not rush and call players just because of the World Cup and lose them after,” the former Udinese star stated on Accra based Max FM.
“Those who wouldn’t have any problem switching nationality must be ready for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers so they get familiar with the terrain, It shouldn’t be that the player plays the world cup and that’s it,” he added.
The likes of Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi are two players that could successfully switch allegiance from England to play for Ghana before the close of this year.
Athletic Bilbao brothers, Inaki and Nico Williams, as well as Brighton and Hove Albion right back, Tariq Lamptey, have also been approached for a nationality switch, according to reports.
Ghana have been pitted against Madagascar, Angola, and the Central African Republic for the Afcon qualifiers which begin in June.
At the World Cup, the Black Stars have been drawn against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.