Michael Essien slams criticism of dual-nationality players in Black Stars

Former Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has responded to criticisms suggesting that players born abroad struggle to perform for the Black Stars due to cultural differences.

Iñaki Williams, the Spain-born striker for Athletic Bilbao, has been a focal point of this criticism. Despite his impressive club form, Williams has struggled to replicate his performances for Ghana, scoring only one goal since debuting for the national team in 2022.

London-born forward Antoine Semenyo has faced similar scrutiny for not meeting expectations.

Essien spoke candidly about the issue on Sporty FM, rejecting the idea that cultural differences are to blame for these struggles. “Sometimes we are funny. When we see these Ghanaians born in Europe, we invite them, and then when things are not going well, we say, ‘Oh, they don’t fit in; they don’t know our culture.’ For me, that’s a bit b**t,” Essien remarked.

The criticism surrounding Williams, Semenyo, and other dual-nationality players has reportedly deterred some from committing to the Black Stars, but Ghana continues to attract top talent with connections to the country.

Essien, who played a pivotal role in Ghana’s qualification for their first World Cup in 2006, is one of the nation’s most decorated footballers.

His career highlights include Premier League titles and a Champions League victory with Chelsea.