Ghana needs defender Mohammed Salisu says Sam Johnson

Former Ghanaian international Sam Johnson believes Mohammed Salisu should be persuaded to play for the Black Stars ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in November.

The Saints defender has reportedly turned down five approaches to play for Ghana at the international level, claiming that he isn’t ready when Alhaji Grusah approached him. Saints coach has also stated that Salisu will make the decision when he is ready.

Since 2019, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been attempting to get the youngster to join Black Stars, but he has declined to accept the invitation.

Retired footballer Sam Johnson, though, thinks the centre-back would be required for the World Cup and that the GFA must try to persuade him to play for Ghana.

“We still need players in the team. Those who are playing better than those we currently have now in the team.  Salisu is a Ghanaian and because of some reason, he doesn’t want to come. Let’s get some people to talk to him and convince him. Sometimes it is because of the way we handle them. So we have to be careful,” he told Happy FM.

“It doesn’t matter if he didn’t play in the qualifiers. It doesn’t work like that in the national team because some players laboured in the qualifiers so they should play in the World Cup. The GFA must go and talk to him,”