Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to actively consider the selection of England-born players with Ghanaian roots as the Black Stars prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana have been drawn into Group L of the tournament, where they will face Panama, England, and Croatia in the group phase. The Black Stars are scheduled to begin their campaign against Panama on June 17, before a high-profile clash with England on June 23, and a final group encounter against Croatia on June 27. The competition will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking in an interview with Citi Sports, Vanderpuye stressed that tapping into players raised within the English football system could offer Ghana both tactical and mental advantages, especially when they come up against the Three Lions.
According to the former Member of Parliament, the presence of players such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Josh Acheampong, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi — alongside Antoine Semenyo — could significantly influence the psychological balance of the England fixture.
“The game I’m most excited about is the one against England,” Vanderpuye said. “That’s why I want more than just Semenyo in the team. I want Callum Hudson-Odoi, Josh Acheampong, Rak-Sakyi. Just having them on the pitch can tilt the mental side of the game in our favour.”
He further explained that prior knowledge of opponents developed through domestic league exposure often plays a crucial role at the highest level.
“In football, familiarity matters,” he added. “There are matchups where one player consistently struggles because the opponent understands his game inside out. When you know a player well, you can predict his movement and limit his influence.”
As anticipation builds toward the group stage, Ghana’s meeting with England is already being viewed as a defining moment in the Black Stars’ World Cup journey, with squad composition expected to play a decisive role in their chances of progression.
