Former Skyy FC coach Christian Nortey Lokko has refuted claims that locals cannot play for the Black Stars.
This follows the exclusion of local players from Coach Chris Hugthon’s latest Black Stars squad, which will face Madagascar in an AFCON Qualifier on June 18.
Lokko, who has spent the majority of his coaching career in the domestic league, believes that Ghana won the four AFCON titles with local players rather than foreign players.
“I swear our local players can play the national team and do it better,” he told Rainbow Sports. I will never lie: some players in divisions one and two can and should play for the national team. With all my experience, I’ve been a footballer my entire life, I’ve played for big teams in Nigeria for over twenty-five years, I’ve been a footballer and a coach, and I know what I’m saying.”
According to the former Skyy FC coach, current national team selections are based on favouritism and nepotism.
“If we believe our league is competitive, why aren’t our players getting called up?” “I believe locals dominated in winning Ghana’s four AFCON trophies, and Egyptians winning the African Cup Of Nations tournament consecutively were 90% locals.” Everything boils down to favouritism and nepotism. Can you tell me that local players can’t play for the national team? I’ll never believe it if things are done correctly. “I have the right to my own opinion,” he added.
Ghana will qualify for the 2024 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast if they win all three points against Madagascar on Sunday.
Ivory Coast, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Tunisia and Egypt have already qualified for the tournament.
By: Enoch Safo/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana