Ghana head coach Otto Addo has reacted to the growing number of foreign-born footballers seeking to join the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging that only players with true commitment should be considered.
During an interview with 3Sports, Addo stressed that Ghana’s national pride and team unity must come before convenience or timing.
“I think Ghana should always have certain pride,” he said. “As a country, we need to go on each player to check commitment, which is very crucial. We have a very good unity, and we definitely don’t want to destroy it by bringing in players who don’t have the commitment.”
He questioned the motives of some players who previously declined to play for Ghana but are now interested after the team’s World Cup qualification.
“It’s a different thing we haven’t approached you and now you want to come or we have been approaching you all the way and you said no but now as we are at the world cup so you want to come,” he added.
His comments come amid public discussions over whether it is fair for new players to join after others endured the demanding qualification process.
Addo confirmed that while interest from foreign-born talents has risen sharply, every case will be judged on its own merits.
“There are players I have been chasing since 2021 who didn’t reply to our calls or want to come,” he noted. “It is very difficult to want to say that in general this is how we will deal with players willing to switch nationality.”
He maintained that Ghana’s doors remain open to anyone who genuinely wishes to represent the nation. “If he wants to play for Ghana, then we are always open.”
As debate rages on about Eddie Nketiah and others, Otto Addo addresses the issue of dual nationals joining the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 World Cup.#3Sports pic.twitter.com/Oe09d9hyYz
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) October 15, 2025
