We are only some few games into the 2023/24 football season, but we have already seen some impressive displays from Ghanaian players across the globe. If they keep the form they’ve shown so far, they’ll surely earn a call-up to the Ghana national team sometime soon.
Their first opportunity is approaching fast, as Chris Hughton will soon be naming a squad to face the Central African Republic in an AFCON qualifier.
Here, we outline four players vying for a spot in Chris Hughton’s Black Stars team.
Ibrahim Sadiq
The 23-year-old winger showed bags of potentials of potential when he represented Ghana at 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made four appearances in the tournament and registered a goal. The young Ghanaian sensation was impressive for BK Hacken scoring 20 goals in 24 appearances- a feat good enough to land him a transfer to Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar this Fall.
With the upcoming international break, there are strong rumours that Sadiq could be handed the chance to impress on the national stage. It would be a shock, of course, but it’s difficult to turn a blind eye away from Ibrahim Sadiq’s exceptional performances this term.
Ernest Nuamah
Similar to Sadiq, Ernest Nuamah who recently joined French giants Olympic Lyon was impressive for Nordsjaelland. Before his transfer to Lyon, he had scored 4 goals in 5 games for his previous employers.
His ability to play on both flanks and as an attacking midfielder provides a level of versatility that would be an asset within any squad. Nuamah’s ability to progress the ball with his passing and be secure in possession has been a key reason why he is one of the hottest teenagers in Europe.
The 19-year-old has earned just one cap for the Black Stars, but his recent displays warrant a return to the national team.
Bernard Tekpetey
Bernard Tekpetey’s stock has risen tremendously since leaving Schalke 04, with him a big part of the excellent Ludogorets Razgrad attack. He has scored 7 goals in 12 appearances for the Bulgarian side this campaign.
Tekpetey is capable of playing wide on the right or left and is hugely productive with his ability to carry the ball towards the opposition penalty area to create chances for himself or team-mates. Although there is a great deal of competition in his position for Ghana, the 25-year-old is well worth an opportunity given his obvious talents.
Having tracked him for a while now, this could have been the perfect opportunity for Hughton to give him a chance.
Jeffrey Schlupp
This list would be incomplete without Crystal Palace’s Jeffrey Schlupp. Since making his Ghana debut in 2011, Schlupp has gone ahead to make additional 19 appearances for the Black Stars. The 30-year-old has blossomed in part due to the insistence of the full-backs to help stretch opponents. With both Gideon Mensah and Abdul Baba Rahman struggling to make the position theirs, Schlupp deserves a chance to prove his mettle in this new-look Black Stars setup.
In addition, Schlupp’s versatility stands him in better stead than both Mensah and Rahman with the Crystal Palace man able to play left-back, left-winger, central midfielder, left winger and forward where needed.
