Former Black Stars coach, Charles Akonnor, has revealed the challenges he faced in defending his player call-ups during his tenure.
Akonnor was appointed in 2020 as the successor to Kwesi Appiah, following the national team’s Round of 16 exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Akonnor reflected on the tensions that arose when selecting players, admitting that he sometimes disagreed with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over his choices.
He explained that the process of assembling the squad was often chaotic.
“As a coach, you draw the list of players you want to use based on what you want to do. Obviously, other members of the FA will also bring their views on board, but it was sometimes uncomfortable,” he said.
“I understand that they have to look into it and that football isn’t done by one person alone. However, in my case, it wasn’t a situation where we were working together. It was a mess. When I went in to justify my selections, it was always very uncomfortable,” he added.
The selection of players for the national team has long been a point of contention among Ghanaians, with many questioning whether selections are based purely on merit or influenced by other factors.
Akonnor’s comments highlight the longstanding belief that the GFA plays a significant role in player selection decisions.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars will conclude their 2025 AFCON qualifiers with a home match against Niger.
However, the team will not participate in next year’s AFCON in Morocco after failing to secure qualification.
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