President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt E.S. Okraku, has shared his views on the ongoing debate about whether more locally based players should be included in the Black Stars squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The discussion has stirred mixed reactions among fans and pundits, with some calling for greater inclusion of home-based talents, while others argue that selection should remain strictly merit-based.
Speaking in an interview with 3Sports, Okraku — who also serves as the Second Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) — stressed that Ghana’s national team must always be represented by its best players, regardless of where they play.
“It’s the coach’s decision when it comes to player selection for Ghana,” Okraku said. “I’m very aware that whatever I say today could influence many people, so I have to be cautious. But generally, I believe Ghana must always be represented by the best players. If the best 26 are in the domestic league, so be it. If they’re abroad, so be it. What matters is that Ghana fields its best.”
Okraku expressed keen interest in seeing how head coach Otto Addo and his technical team will handle the next phase of squad selection.
“I’m curious to see what the technical team will do. The entire country is expectant. The first step will be a provisional list of about 55 players, as required by FIFA regulations. Usually, those who make that list stand a good chance of being in the final squad,” he explained.
Reflecting on Otto Addo’s progress since his appointment, Okraku highlighted the coach’s development through both success and adversity.
“Otto has learned key lessons from the World Cup in Qatar, from the AFCON campaign we didn’t qualify for, and from this near-perfect qualification journey. Ultimately, Ghana will benefit from all these experiences,” he noted.
He further urged Ghanaians to unite behind the Black Stars as the team prepares for the global tournament.
“Going to the World Cup means a lot — not only for football but for Ghana as a nation. It’s important that we all throw our weight behind the campaign,” Okraku added.
Ghana sealed qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium, courtesy of a 47th-minute strike from Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohammed Kudus. The Black Stars had already booked their spot before the final whistle, following Madagascar’s 4-1 defeat to Mali.
The team’s best-ever performance at the World Cup came in 2010, when Ghana reached the quarterfinals in South Africa, narrowly missing out on a semifinal berth after a dramatic loss to Uruguay.
