Ghana national football team head coach Carlos Queiroz has assured that players competing in the Ghana Premier League and other domestic competitions will be given equal opportunities to earn national team call-ups.
Speaking during his official unveiling at the Alisa Hotel, the Portuguese tactician made it clear that selection into the Black Stars will be strictly based on merit, with performance, experience, and character forming the foundation of his decisions.
“The criteria for selection into the Black Stars must be very clear, taking into consideration performance, experience, knowledge, and character,” Queiroz stated. “Playing for the national team is completely different from playing for your club.”
He stressed that no player has an automatic place in the team, emphasizing that consistent performances will be the ultimate deciding factor.
“The selection criteria are simple: nobody owns the national team. Local players will be given a fair opportunity. If they perform on the pitch, they deserve to be here. They must be capable, determined, experienced, and fit,” he added.
Queiroz’s remarks address a long-standing debate within Ghanaian football regarding the limited inclusion of locally-based players in the national setup. In recent years, the Black Stars squad has been largely dominated by foreign-based players, with few call-ups from the domestic league.
However, his comments signal a potential shift in policy, where form and merit will take precedence regardless of where a player is based.
The former Real Madrid coach also highlighted the importance of physical fitness and mental strength, indicating that these qualities will carry as much weight as experience in shaping his squad moving forward.
