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The former Black Stars attacker shares his thoughts on the way forward for the West African country in his latest bet.
Former Borussia Dortmund forward Ibrahim Tanko believes that Ghana’s approach to ensuring the services of dual citizens to represent the country at the absolute stage has contributed to its low success rate.
The West Africans have set their sights on augmenting their current squad with players of Ghanaian descent abroad, with Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah and Brighton and Hove Albion right-back Tariq Lamptey at the top of their wish list.
Ghana’s low success rate in winning over dual citizens in recent times does not look good by any means, casting doubt on its latest offerings.
“There is a lot of Ghanaian talent abroad, especially in England, Germany and the Netherlands, but we always wait for them to play for the first team before they come to our attention,” Tanko, a former Ghana international and assistant coach, told Wontumi Sports. .
“If we want to integrate them into our national team, we have to start early. A player like Tariq Lamptey has the potential to play for England because he plays for England.”
Ghana’s struggles of late have not been helped by reports of the use of black magic, popularly known as ‘juju’, by members of the Black Stars.
Tanko believes that former Ghanaian internationals abroad could be deployed to help get the right message across to current goals.
“In Germany, we have Otto Addo, Eric Addo in the Netherlands, Adu Tutu also in Austria and Razak in Denmark,” said Tanko.
“If we ask these former players to talk to young people, they can convince them because they have experience in dealing with players.
“I know that the Turkish Federation has an office in Germany because they know that they are Turkish players who are based in Germany. So if we do the same, we will get these players.”
Ghana has also targeted Belgian youth striker Francis Amuzu, former Dutch Under-21 star Derrick Luckassen, current Dutch youth forward Brian Brobbey, former French youth defender Enoch Kwateng and French-born duo Elisha Owusu and Alexander Djiku for play for the Black Stars.
“There are many perceptions about how Ghanaian footballers play,” George Amoakoh, member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council and Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, told Nhyira FM.
“Destructive tendencies in the game, those who deliberately want to hurt you and cut short your career.
“Then the usual endless speculation, especially about Ghanaian players using ‘juju’ to play soccer.
“Even those [players in the diaspora] who grew up here and go to Europe to play there, most of them ‘juju’ do not want to play for Ghana.
“It is a very big problem that we are trying to solve and correct.”
Anderlecht teenager Jeremy Doku, who was contacted for a change of international allegiance from Belgium to Ghana earlier this year, turned down the Black Stars to make a competitive appearance in his country of birth earlier this month and stay permanently. linked to the Red Devils. .
