Would-be Ghana players must know they won’t be automatic first-team players

Would-be Ghana players must know they won’t be automatic first-team players as they closes in to switch allegiance to play for the Black Stars.

The Ghana Football Association are working around the clock to get Europe-born Ghanaian players for the biggest soccer mundial later this year.

Players to be on the list as the Ghana FA intend to naturalize include Callum Hudson-Odoi, Eddie Nketiah, Tariq Lamptey, Inaki Williams and Nico Williams.

Germany-born duo of Patrick Pfeiffer and Stephen Ambrosious have also become high Ghana targets ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana coach Otto Addo has insisted there will be no automatic places for players desirous of switching allegiance as they will have to work their way up the ladder.

Odoi who has capped three time for the Three Lions of England has been overlooked for almost two-years despite playing actively.

The 21-year-old last appearances for England came at the end of 2019, playing 59 minutes in their game against Kosovo in the Euro 2020 qualifier.

He was snubbed for the Euro 2020 tournament despite his fine form at the time with Chelsea.

Odoi has now persuaded to play for the West African powerhouse ahead of the World Cup.

November is the earliest time he will be able to play, which coincides with the beginning of the World Cup, which is set to take place in Qatar in the Middle East.

He was in Ghana last year and had the opportunity to meet Ghana’s President Akuffo Addo and GFA boss Kurt Okraku.

Tariq Lamptey recently rejected call up to play for the England U-21 side after telling coach Lee Carsley to exclude him.

The Brighton defender arrived in Ghana for holidays last week since the 2021/22 season is over.

He took the opportunity to meet Ghana FA President Kurt Okraku to discussed about his desire to play for Ghana.

Lamptey watched Ghana’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar where the Black Stars inflicted a 3-0 win over their opponent.

He has capped two times for the England U-21 but has represented England at the U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has confirmed his desire to represent Ghana at the international level after being ignored by England’s Three Lions.

Nketiah, despite being the record goal scorer for the England U-21 team has been consistently overlooked persuading him to switch allegiance.