Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu has opened up on what convinced him to accept an invitation to play for the Black Stars of Ghana.
Salisu, who was born in Kumasi, turned down call-ups to represent the senior national team of Ghana since his playing days at the Spanish La Liga side Real Valladolid.
The 23-year-old disclosed that talks with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku and coach Otto Addo convinced him to honor the Black Stars call-up in September to feature against Brazil and Nicaragua.
The tough-minded defender made his debut for Ghana in an international friendly against Brazil in September.
“I had a talk with the FA President [Kurt Okraku]. They told me their plans were in trying to change everything in the team [Black Stars],” Salisu told Southampton FC media in an interview
“I spoke to the coach [Otto Addo] and he told me he needed me in the team. That's what made me change my mind,”
Salisu was named among the Ghana's final 26-man squad list for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and expected to start for the Black Stars.
He has made fourteen appearances for Southampton in the English Premier League this season so far.
