Former Ghana international William Kwabena Tierro has strongly criticised suggestions that Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi should be included in Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing their potential call-up as unnecessary.
Speaking in an interview with Kessben FM, the former Asante Kotoko midfielder argued that the England-born duo do not add significant value to the Black Stars and should not be prioritised for football’s biggest tournament.
“For me, it’s unnecessary to include Nketiah and Hudson-Odoi in our squad for the World Cup. They are not essential picks,” Tierro stated.
“Truth be told, they are not game-changers like Messi or Ronaldo. They cannot perform any wonders for the team.”
The debate over the possible inclusion of Nketiah and Hudson-Odoi has intensified in recent months, with opinions divided between those calling for their selection and others insisting that players who were not involved in Ghana’s qualification campaign should not be considered for the tournament.
Tierro firmly aligns with the latter view, stressing that squad selection should be based on contribution, consistency, and impact rather than reputation or background.
Ghana have been drawn into a challenging Group L at the 2026 World Cup, where they will face England, 2018 finalists Croatia, and Panama, following the draw held in Washington on December 5, 2025.
The tournament, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature an expanded 48-team format, with Ghana securing one of Africa’s nine automatic qualification slots.
The Black Stars will be making their fifth World Cup appearance, having previously featured in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022, with their best run coming in South Africa 2010, where they reached the quarter-finals.
As part of preparations for the global showpiece, Ghana are also scheduled to face Germany in a high-profile international friendly on March 30, 2026, as the team fine-tunes preparations ahead of a demanding group-stage campaign.
