Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, says he is firmly against any move to allow England-born players Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah to join the Black Stars after previously turning down the country.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Sannie Daara told Paul Adom-Otchere that both players had multiple opportunities to commit to Ghana in the past but showed no interest until their international careers with England began to stall.
“I’m vehemently opposed to Callum Hudson-Odoi in particular and Nketiah coming to play for the Black Stars,” he stated.
“Our former coaches Kwesi Appiah, Chris Hughton and our current coach, Otto Addo, have all made efforts to reach these guys. Out of respect for such respectable people, you turn them down. Now it’s time for the World Cup, and you see that your career is maybe in the corner, and you want to come.”
He revealed that the Ghana FA has made several attempts over the years to convince the two players to switch allegiance, but those efforts were consistently rejected.
Even the FA President Kurt Okraku, Sannie said, met their families personally.
“Our FA president, the current FA president, has been there, met their families. They rejected it,” he said. “Now it’s time for the World Cup and suddenly they want to come. What message does this send to the other players who have been committed all this while?”
The former BBC journalist argued that such last-minute switches create a culture where players only consider representing Ghana when it benefits their personal careers rather than the nation.
“It’s what has led to the growth in the number of players not wanting to commit early, only wanting to commit when the World Cup is here,” he said.
