Despite meeting Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku earlier this month, Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu is still not part of the Black Stars.
Okraku met Salisu in England and discussed the player’s refusal to play for the senior national team after several attempts from the GFA. Okraku was on a working visit and managed to travel to Southampton to meet the highly talented defender.
During the meeting, Salisu made clear his desire to play for Ghana but Okraku jokingly pressed him to name the date which forced the confession from the player.
From the conversation, Salisu pleaded with Okraku for patience to settle in England first before playing for the Black Stars but the GFA boss jokingly pressed him saying” are you trying to rap me?.
“If you don’t play football, I’m I the one who is going to play?,” the FA Capo quizzed the Southampton star.
Salisu replied: “The problem is we do everything with you guys, and if we don’t include you it won’t work so I hope you understand. There are a lot of players.”
Kurt Okraku laughed knowing the defender was trying to buy time for himself even though he has an interest in playing for the national team.
Following the meeting, several reports claimed that Salisu has changed his mind and will be available for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and the Central African Republic.
However, Salisu was not included in Ghana coach Otto Addo’s squad which was announced on Thursday, leaving Ghanaians concerned.
Salisu is one of Ghana’s best players, and Ghanaians want him in the Black Stars. Some Ghanaians, however, are growing impatient with the defender, who appears uninterested in donning the national colours.
Some have suggested that the GFA abandon its pursuit of Salisu and instead focus on players willing to represent the country. He is quickly losing favour.
The invited 33 players are expected to start arriving this weekend to begin preparations for the qualifiers and also a four-nation tournament in Japan.
Black Stars face Madagascar in their first match of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers on June 1 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
For the second match against the Central African Republic, Ghana will travel to Angola.
They will then compete in a four-nation tournament against Japan, Chile, and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in November.
