Hot!
Don’t force them to play!
Qualification games to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar roared off barely two years ago – with many wondering whether Ghana could snatch one of the continent’s five tickets to its fourth Mundial.
The nation carved a historic World Cup debut in Germany (2006) – continuing the romance in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014), but failed to navigate their path to Russia (2018).
The Russia embarrassing fiasco jogged on the ‘nagging heels’ of disgraceful events of the Brazil World Cup that saw a heart-rending player rebellion – totally consumed by love for cash, robbing the team of a potentially eye-catching campaign. A calamitous first round exit was the upshot!
Indeed, Ghanaians were not the least surprised at all about the Russia qualification disaster; it was all-too predictable – albeit the players gave it a thoroughly decent fight.
But that is history now. No one wants to remember it.
What many Ghanaians are probably still celebrating now is the Black Stars triumphant entry into Qatar – upstaging no less an opposition than Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The sweetness in that momentous victory was that the Stars snatched qualification from the wild jaws of Abuja – (away goal rule) – not in Kumasi where the playoff game ended barren.
Victory did not only ensure passage to a fourth World Cup but raised strong concerns about building a formidably winsome Black Stars squad capable of making remarkable impression in the minds of fans.
Though many agree that at least the nucleus of the new-look squad that edged the Super Eagles must be in Qatar, it is the general view that the team must be augmented for the fierce challenges ahead.
However, there seems to be some alarm bells of anxiety and desperation as there have been calls for players like striker Inaki Williams (Atletico Bilbao), Chelsea midfielder Hudson Odoi and Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu among others, to join the squad.
Sadly, some of the players being bandied around are clearly not desirous about donning the national colours now – and one wonders why we are still at their heels.
As a matter of principle, we must make it a point not to compel anybody to play for the national team – no matter how big and grandeur the player is.
In any case, to qualify to feature for the Black Stars, a player must demonstrate a patriotic zeal; must have a huge desire to don the red-gold-green-and-star shirt. It is such a huge shirt, and nobody must be pampered to wear it.
Ahead of the nervy qualifier against Nigeria, some of the players indicated their availability only when Ghana qualifies. Such players must not have a space in the team.
From experience, once so-called marquee players are forced or kowtowed to play, they tend to hold their own country to ransom. No way!
It is always better to go into a competition with 11 average dedicated and whole-heartedly committed players on the field than carry a bus-full load of embarrassingly rich array of stars!
Mind you, you cannot buy commitment. You cannot buy valour. You cannot buy dedication. But you can buy big stars with money!
PlainTalk with John Vigah
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
