Ghana's 24-man squad for the opening AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia has reignited a familiar argument about how much faith the national team setup places in the Ghana Premier League. Only Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare was selected from the local league, with not a single outfield player drawn from the domestic league making the cut. This has prompted veteran coach JE Sarpong to question the pattern.
Speaking to Graphic Sports, Sarpong argued that repeatedly overlooking Ghana Premier League players for national duty makes it difficult to judge the league's actual standard. He pointed out that players frequently ignored for Black Stars selection while playing locally are often called up soon after moving abroad, suggesting the assessment of their readiness changes quickly once they sign foreign contracts.
Sarpong's comments suggest that the near-absence of home-based players from Black Stars squads may affect how the league itself is perceived by prospective investors, scouts and fans. For players competing in the Ghana Premier League, national team recognition carries both prestige and practical career value, potentially opening doors to contracts abroad.
The squad announcement itself has been overshadowed by a string of absences. Ghana will head into the qualifiers without several key figures after Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo withdrew, followed by captain Jordan Ayew, who pulled out in what was described as Ghana's fifth injury setback in a week.
The squad selection lands against a backdrop of continuing scrutiny of the Ghana Premier League's overall health. Funding shortfalls have contributed to Ghanaian champions repeatedly struggling in continental competition, and there are broader structural problems facing Ghanaian clubs attempting to compete on the African stage.
Domestic clubs have also faced separate concerns over player welfare and funding, issues that remain live for teams and players across the league. Giving deserving home-based players a genuine shot at the Black Stars would motivate those still playing in Ghana and give a fairer picture of the league's quality.
Ghana is set to open its AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia, though exact match dates are not specified. No response from Carlos Queiroz or the Ghana Football Association to Sarpong's remarks has been reported so far.
Key points
- Only one home-based player, Benjamin Asare, was selected in Ghana's 24-man AFCON 2027 qualifying squad.
- Veteran coach JE Sarpong questions the national team setup's faith in the Ghana Premier League.
- The squad selection has been overshadowed by a string of absences, including key players Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Jordan Ayew.
