Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi has appealed to the Black Stars’ technical team to set aside emotions and consider extending invitations to Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to JoyNews, Nyantakyi stressed that the national team should remain open to all eligible Ghanaian players capable of contributing to success at the tournament.
“The Black Stars is open to every Ghanaian who is eligible to play,” he said. “Some people become a bit sentimental and emotional—‘oh, this guy dumped Ghana’—but I am interested in people who can help us achieve results.”
He urged decision-makers to focus purely on performance and competitiveness rather than past allegiance debates.
“People like Eddie Nketiah and Hudson-Odoi, let’s take out our emotions and give them the chance if the coach thinks they can compete favourably,” Nyantakyi added.
The GFA had previously made attempts to persuade both players to switch international allegiance to Ghana, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
Eddie Nketiah, who has one senior cap for England, has scored four goals across all competitions this season, while Callum Hudson-Odoi, with three England appearances, has found the net three times for Nottingham Forest.
Ghana have been drawn in Group L for the World Cup, where they will face Panama, England, and Croatia. Head coach Otto Addo is expected to announce the final squad for the tournament on June 1.
