The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have been urged to stop pursuing Mohammed Salisu if the defender is not ready to play for the Black Stars by the time the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers kick-off.

The Southampton center-back has turned several call-ups to the national team, citing personal reasons.

However, according to Ghana Premier League chief scout, Ebenezer Sefa, there should be a time limit on the space granted to the defender to ponder on playing for the Black Stars.

He added that the country’s football governing body should not relent in their pursuit but rather have confidence in the current crop of defenders in the team.

“At least we still have more months before the World Cup. If he’s ready to come and play fine, if he’s not ready we should have confidence in those who are there. I’m not saying we should drop our pursuit of him but there should be a limit. There should be a time limit,” he told Kumasi based Luv FM.

“If by May when we start our AFCON qualifiers, if we play Angola and that young man has not made up his mind, we should forget about him and concentrate on those who are ready to play because from that time to November when the World Cup starts, we need to focus,” he said.

Coach Sefah stated that although Ghana needs quality for the World Cup if Salisu is unwilling to play for the Black Stars after June, he should be left alone. He named some players who never played in international matches.

“I mean Ginola never played for the French National team after he was dropped by Gerard Houllier; Cantona did not play again for France after then-coach Henri Michel dropped him for misconduct. And these were quality players,” Coach Sefa emphasized.

Ghana will start the 2023 AFCON qualifiers between May-June against Group E opponents Madagascar, Angola, and the Central African Republic.