Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, has revealed that he regrets his role in getting Kevin-Prince Boateng to play for the Black Stars, describing the midfielder’s attitude towards the national team as “opportunistic.”
Speaking on Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Sannie Daara said he personally lobbied for Boateng’s nationality switch while working at the BBC because he believed the player would be a valuable addition to Ghana’s squad.
“I regret it because I did it with all my heart and my mind,” he said.
“I was then working at the BBC and I took it upon myself that he was a good player. I needed to support the system. At that time, the FA was, you know, ‘what if, what if.’ But I had to exert some pressure on the president and a few others and the switch went through.”
However, Sannie says his excitement quickly turned to disappointment when Boateng began to pick and choose which matches to play for Ghana.
“Do you know that Kevin has not played in any AFCON qualifier?” he asked.
“We were going to play DR Congo away, a very difficult qualifier, and he didn’t show up because he claimed he was injured. Three days later, we were playing England at Wembley and he turned up saying he wanted to play. The players revolted, and he was sent away.”
According to Sannie, that incident marked the beginning of a troubling pattern.
“Since he came to the national team, it looked too opportunistic in my liking. Upon reflection, it’s been the same story,” he said.
Kevin-Prince Boateng scored one of Ghana’s most memorable goals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but Sannie believes his short-lived commitment did more harm than good.
“What is the long-term benefit? After one tournament, he disappeared.”
He also believes that Boateng would never have secured the AC Milan deal if not for Black Stars because until he joined the Ghanaian national team his career was ailing.
Sannie Daara argued that Kevin-Prince Boateng’s situation set a bad precedent, encouraging other foreign-born players of Ghanaian descent to delay committing to the national team until major tournaments approached.
“It is 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.
He also expressed strong opposition to recent efforts to convince English-born players like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah to switch allegiance to Ghana.
“I’m vehemently opposed to Callum Hudson-Odoi in particular and Nketiah coming to play for the Black Stars,” he said.
“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.”
Sannie noted that even Ghana’s FA President has personally met with the players’ families, only to be turned down.
“What message does this send to other players who are fully committed?” he asked.
For Sannie Daara, the issue goes beyond football, it’s about national pride and fairness.
“At this point, we must send a message,” he said firmly. “Even for me, I’m not talking emotionally.”
