FIFA U20 World Cup Winner Tells Foreign Born Ghanaian Players to Avail Themselves for AFCON Qualifiers

FIFA U20 World Cup Winner Tells Foreign Born Ghanaian Players to Avail Themselves for AFCON Qualifiers

Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:00 PM
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  • Emmanuel Agyemang Badu wants foreign-born footballers who want to switch their nationality to Ghana get involved in the AFCON qualifiers and not only the World Cup
  • He made this assertion on the back of recent spike in reports of Ghanaian players in the diaspora hinting on possible nationality switch
  • Agyemang Badu's views have been corroborated by former Fenerbahce and Anderlecht striker Yaw Preko

Former Black Stars midfield linchpin Emmanuel Agyemang Badu believes Ghanaian players born in the diaspora who are willing to switch nationality should be ready to feature for the nation in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

The 31-year-old midfielder reckons that playing in the qualifiers would help the foreign-born Ghanaian footballers get acquainted with the dictates of the national team before the 2022 World Cup.

In an interview with capital-based radio station Max FM, the ex-Udinese midfielder weighed in on the possible nationality switch of foreign-born players of Ghanaian parentage.

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Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has told foreign-born Ghanaian players to avail themselves for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers while seeking to play at the World Cup. Photo credit: @Ghanaballers @Arsenal @ChelseaFC
Source: Twitter
"We should not rush and call players just because of the World Cup and lose them after,” the former Udinese midfielder stated as quoted by 3sports.
“Those who wouldn’t have any problem switching nationality must be ready for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers so they get familiar with the terrain. It shouldn’t be that the player plays the World Cup and that’s it,” he added.

His views stems from the relentless pursuit of the Ghana Football Association to bolster the Black Stars squad ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Players such as Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal, Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi, Athletic Bilbao's Mr consistent Inaki Williams and Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey have been linked with the Black Stars.

Yaw Preko wants players born in the diaspora to avail themselves for AFCON qualifiers

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former Ghana international Yaw Preko has cautioned that players who want to play in the 2022 World Cup must be ready to play in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Black Stars are making a return to the World Cup after qualifying at the expense of Nigeria in the play-offs.

The Ghana Football Association has been in talks with certain players in an attempt to convince them to play for the Black Stars following Ghana's qualification to the Mundial.

Authors
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe photo
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe is a Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and La Liga editor with five-year experience. He previously worked with Sports Corna and 360SportsGH.
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