The usual frenzy that surrounded the BlackStars call-ups for a qualifier or major competition was at its all-time high. Like many others, there were many checks, balances, consultations, lobbying, and what have you in the background prior to the ultimate squad announcement.
Ghana, a dominant football country secured its first qualification to the FIFA World Cup in Germany, 2006 then went on to make two other appearances in South Africa,2010 as well as Brazil,2014 but not Russia,2018 which saw the country miss out in such agonizing fashion but that didn’t deter the boys from making the most of the double legged playoff against Nigeria after topping their group to secure one of five allocated African slots for the World Cup.
Fast-forward, Coach Otto Addo named an initial 55-man squad list that had players from all walks of life to be whittled down to a 26-man squad list for the FIFA World Cup, Qatar.
Prior to the official announcement, some names like Jeffrey Schlupp, Joseph Painstil, Majeed Ashimeru, Afena Gyan, and Samuel Owusu found their way to the media space has been excluded from the initial squad list put out squad by Otto Addo, this drew widespread speculations as to why they had been left out but the issue is not all can make the squad, others will have to make way for other players to make the final list. Such is life.
The official announcement of the squad on Monday,14, was the turning point of the meltdown, backlash from family and friends of these footballers, who thought their own should have made the final lap but Coach Otto and his technical team certainly held a different overview of men they deem fit and trusted enough to interpret their vision on the field. Quite saddening for these families and friends but that’s how the game has always played out. Better luck to them next time.
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For me once the list was released, I said to myself that this may be the best as deemed by the technical handlers for the country but then again I began asking myself what the recruitment criteria were for players to earn a call-up and then make the final cut for a tournament not just any ordinary one but the FIFA World Cup but these are questions that will remain burdened and unanswered until the BlackStars makes it bow in Qatar.
The good thing for Ghana heading into this competition is that, though they may be the least ranked side, it will certainly provide them room to maneuver their way in a group that has Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea once they get their acts together.
This squad can draw a lot of inspiration from the 2006,2010 World Cup squad which had the whole continent and beyond rooting for their success but not the 2014 one which had their own demons to exorcise in that tournament in Brazil.
I know the fasting and prayer sessions are over, our friendly games had its own see-saws but collectively the 26-man squad led by Andre Ayew have the whole 26 million football populace counting on them to make Mother Ghana proud.
