Sulley Muntari’s future with the Ghanaian national team—the Black Stars—appears highly uncertain following the disciplinary issues that marred Ghana’s 2014 World Cup campaign. The incident in Brazil, where both Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were dismissed from the squad ahead of the match against Portugal, highlighted deep-rooted tensions within the team.
Key Points from the Controversy:
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Dismissal from World Cup squad: Muntari was suspended for allegedly assaulting a GFA official, while Boateng was expelled for verbally abusing coach Kwesi Appiah.
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Smoking video: A video later surfaced showing Muntari smoking and joking with teammates during a pre-World Cup training camp in Holland, not Brazil as some believed.
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Coaching staff’s inaction: According to the GFA, this occurred in the presence of the coaching staff, but no sanctions were imposed at the time.
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Public reaction: The footage, which included chants like “Shii-Sha Man” and “Gandja man,” sparked backlash and ridicule on social media, further damaging Muntari’s image.
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GFA’s response: Coach Appiah and the GFA have since promised the introduction of a new disciplinary code for the national team to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Implications:
Given Muntari’s repeated indiscipline and the public nature of the incidents, his return to the Black Stars seems very unlikely in the near future—especially under Kwesi Appiah’s leadership. His actions have not only drawn criticism but also tarnished Ghana’s reputation during a crucial international tournament.
Unless there’s a major change in coaching leadership or Muntari publicly reconciles with the GFA and shows genuine remorse, his international career with Ghana may effectively be over.
