Addo shuts Ghana's door for 'ex-refusers': 'We as Ghanaians need to have some national pride'

A phenomenon in football where players of African origins play for European countries in which they were born or to which their parents had moved isn't new. The examples are numerous, and we can only imagine how powerful national teams from the Mother Continent would have been had those players opted for them.

However, when those same footballers fail to find their place in their preferred team's squad, they turn to their African origins and change their minds. These cases are also frequent, and happen specifically ahead of renowned tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup.

Ghana's WC preparations: stealing Nketiah and Odoi from England

Realizing that "beggars can't be choosers," the aforementioned players start seeing their country of origin as the perfect and only opportunity to participate in such a prominent tournament.

Despite being aware that they are the "last resort," many countries accept their "ex-refusers." However, that won't be the case with Ghana - at least that's what the Black Stars' boss, Otto Addo, claimed, commenting on the rumours that Crystal Palace's Eddie Nketiah and Nottingham Forest's Callum Hudson-Odoi could join his crew.

"What I know is that the core of the squad will remain. They have earned it. There are players we've been chasing since 2021 who rejected us. We need to check the commitment so we don't destroy the unity."

"It's going to be difficult for players who rejected us in the past. We as Ghanaians need to have some national pride," Addo said bluntly in an interview with Joy Sports via MyJoyOnline.

Both Nketiah and Hudson-Odoi have made appearances - four in total - for England's senior squad, but could eventually switch allegiance. Nevertheless, based on Addo's claims, it won't be necessary.