Several players in the diaspora have either rejected or asked for more time to ponder over playing for the senior male team of Ghana, the Black Stars.
Reasons for the indecision vary from player to player with reports attributing some of those to the incessant “black magic” tag placed on Black Stars.
It will be recalled that in 2012, Serbian coach, Goran Stevanovic was reported to have raised the issue of “black power” in his technical report to the Ghana FA after the AFCON tournament co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea where the nation finished 4th.
Fast forward to the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, the point of “juju” has raised its ugly head with some players reported to have brought unknown men in camp for spiritual fortifications.
It is for reasons like these that ex-Ghana International, Charles Taylor has warned Chelsea forward, Callum Hudson Odoi against playing for the Black Stars.
Odoi, 21 , who has a Ghanaian father and a British mother has on several occasions been linked with a switch from England to playing for Ghana.
Taylor, a Hearts of Oak and Kotoko legend believes it will be a bad decision for the Chelsea academy graduate.
“I have already advised [Hudson] Odoi so if he doesn’t listen and decides to play for Ghana, he will regret ever taking that decision. “He [Hudson Odoi] is a Ghanaian and I am a Ghanaian but if you rush into playing for the Ghana national team, you will be disgraced.
“Nothing good will come out of it because our systems are not good. “If possible, he should wait for a proper administrator [to take over the Ghana FA] before deciding to play for the Black Stars.” Charles Taylor told Ebusua fm.
Apart from Hudson-Odoi, Atletico Bilbao forward, Inaki Williams believes there more players who deserve the Black Stars call up as he feels more Spanish.
Southampton defender, Salisu Mohammed and Kamal Sowah who has joined Dutch side, AZ Alkmaar on loan from Club Brugge of Belgium have all asked for time to think through the idea of playing for their motherland.
Ghana are up against Nigeria over two legs in the final qualifier for a place in 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
