Ghana left-back, Abdul Baba Rahman, has clarified that he has not retired from the Black Stars but is temporarily stepping back from international duties to focus on his recovery from persistent injuries.
Rahman, who previously played for Chelsea and Asante Kotoko, last represented Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Central African Republic in September 2023.
During that match, the 30-year-old faced criticism from fans, who expressed frustration over his performance.
In an interview with BBC Sport Africa, Rahman explained that his decision to pause his international career is to concentrate on regaining his fitness:
“It’s a personal decision to take a break [from Ghana] to concentrate on my fitness because I’ve not had a great time with injuries,” he said.
“When I joined PAOK last year, I thought it was wise to stay away a bit from international football to get my fitness back.”
Rahman acknowledged the strong support he has received from fans who are keen to see him return but emphasized that his health must come first.
“Fans are asking me all the time to come back to play for Ghana, but I think I need to take care of my health before everything right now,” Rahman shared.
“People know about my injury history, and it has really been a difficult few years. I just want to enjoy my club football again, and then I know my international career will take off again too.”