A strong local league will force Black Stars to perform – Sam Johnson

Former Ghana international, Sam Johnson has called for a stronger local league to increase competition among players vying for spots on the Black Stars squad.

The national team’s recent performance has been underwhelming, putting their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in jeopardy.

After four qualifying matches, Ghana sits third in Group F with just two points, sparking widespread criticism of the team’s performance.

In an interview with Graphic Sports, Johnson expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in player selection and suggested that some players in the Black Stars squad had grown too comfortable due to the absence of competition from local league players.

“We need to ask, what criteria do we use to select players? Some of them don’t feel any pressure because there’s no competition from local players. When there’s no threat to their positions, they get complacent,” Johnson warned.

Johnson, a former player and coach for Accra Hearts of Oak, emphasized the importance of developing the local league to produce high-calibre players capable of challenging for national team positions.

“We must build a strong local side that gives national team players tough competition. When they know their place is at risk, they’ll step up their game,” he added.

Ghana will finish their AFCON qualifiers next month, facing Angola, who have already qualified, in Luanda, and Niger, who currently sit at the bottom of the group, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

For Ghana to secure a spot in the tournament, they will need Sudan to lose their remaining games, along with their own victories over both Angola and Niger.