Veteran Ghanaian coach Joseph Emmanuel Sarpong has questioned the continued limited representation of Ghana Premier League players in the Black Stars, arguing that the trend is damaging confidence in the domestic game.

Sarpong's comments follow Carlos Queiroz's selection of a 24-man squad for Ghana's opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia.

Only one player from the Ghana Premier League — Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare — was included in the squad.

No outfield player from clubs including Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak, Medeama, Aduana FC or Samartex received a call-up.

Speaking to Graphic Sports, Sarpong questioned what message the situation sends about the quality and prospects of players competing in the domestic league.

“We don't know whether the local league is good or not because of the absence of the local boys,” Sarpong said.

He also pointed to what he sees as a recurring pattern in which players receive greater attention from the national team after moving abroad.

“They say the local boys are not good enough to play in the Black Stars, but it is the same boys who travel and, after one or two years, suddenly get invited to the national team.”

Sarpong Calls for More Opportunities

Sarpong believes greater opportunities for outstanding domestic players could provide additional motivation across the Ghana Premier League.

According to the veteran coach, regularly overlooking home-based players risks creating the impression among young footballers that leaving Ghana is a prerequisite for earning international recognition.

He also argued that selecting three or four deserving local players could give supporters and stakeholders a clearer indication of the standard of the domestic competition.

“We need to motivate them. If they do well, give them the chance,” he added.

Sarpong has previously expressed similar concerns about the relationship between the Black Stars and the domestic league.

In 2024, he argued that the limited pathway from the Ghana Premier League to the senior national team was contributing to the departure of promising local players, who may see an overseas move as a quicker route to international recognition.

Benjamin Asare the Lone Local Representative

Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare remains the only Ghana Premier League representative in Queiroz's squad.

Asare's selection comes after a strong domestic campaign in which he recorded 15 clean sheets for the Phobians last season.

Following Mohammed Kudus' withdrawal from the squad because of fitness concerns, attention also turned to whether Queiroz would bring in another locally based player.

However, the coach has opted to rely on foreign-based alternatives.

Black Stars Begin AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

Ghana will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign away against Côte d'Ivoire on September 24, with the match scheduled to take place in Bouaké.

The Black Stars will then return home to face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29.

For Sarpong, the limited presence of Ghana Premier League players in the squad remains a broader issue for the development and perception of the domestic competition, particularly among young players hoping to progress to the senior national team.