Former Ghanaian President and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has articulated a commitment to a renewed strategy for the Black Stars, pivoting towards the development and inclusion of local players in the national football team. This announcement comes in the aftermath of Ghana’s disappointing performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Ivory Coast.
The Black Stars, seeking to end a 42-year trophy drought, faced early elimination from the tournament, managing only two points at the group stage.
Mahama, outlining the NDC’s vision for the team’s resurgence, stressed the imperative of establishing a strong foundation centered around homegrown talent.
Mahama underscored the importance of a collaborative effort with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to build a cohesive and competitive team.
Reflecting on Ghana’s recent AFCON campaign, he criticized the apparent lack of football development in the country and pledged to nurture young talents from an early age.
“We will build the new Black Stars based on homegrown players, domestic players who have trained together for a long time and worked as a team,” Mahama affirmed.
He emphasized the need for young talents to gain experience by playing in local teams before potential international exposure, challenging the existing paradigm of relying solely on foreign-based players.
The former president detailed the NDC’s comprehensive plan to overhaul Ghana’s football landscape, advocating for a core Black Stars team comprising players who have developed cohesion by training together extensively.
Mahama envisages integrating foreign players into this homegrown foundation, ensuring a harmonious blend of talent and experience.
“The core of the Black Stars must be made of domestic players who have played together for a long time; we keep camping them, and they keep practicing together,” Mahama elaborated.
The proposed approach seeks to address the challenges arising from the disparate playing experiences of foreign-based players and foster a more cohesive national team.
Ghana’s recent AFCON campaign, marked by a defeat against Cape Verde and two draws against Egypt and Mozambique, has spurred Mahama and the NDC to push for a transformative football strategy in collaboration with the GFA.
The focus on local talent development aims to propel the Black Stars to future successes on the international stage.
