In the wake of the Black Stars’ disappointing performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Simon Ehomah, Chairman of the Western Region Football Association, is advocating for a balanced composition of the national team.
Speaking on Onua TV’s Agoro Fie, Ehomah attributed Ghana’s poor showing to lack of commitment among players and a loss of control in the dressing room by the technical team led by former coach Chris Hughton.
Ehomah firmly placed the blame on the playing body and the technical team. He stated, “Don’t put the blame on the GFA, it is the playing body and the technical team.”
He criticised the commitment levels of some players, stating that they played as if they were coerced into representing the national team.
The Chairman proposed a 50% quota for foreign-based players in the national team, coupled with the cancellation of bonuses for these players.
Ehomah believes this move will ensure that players are motivated by a genuine desire to represent the country rather than financial incentives.
He criticized the current crop of foreign-based players, alleging a lack of care for the team’s performance, stating, “As professionals, see what happened after 89 minutes of our games. Is that how professionals behave?”
This proposal aligns with former President John Dramani Mahama’s suggestion to prioritize home-grown players in the Black Stars. Mahama argued that relying solely on foreign players, who predominantly play in different clubs, hampers team cohesion during competitions.
Addressing the issue of a new coach for the Black Stars, Ehomah expressed the belief that a foreign coach would be better suited for the role.
He expressed skepticism about the capability of local coaches, suggesting that most of them might not be up to the task of handling the national team.
