C.K Akonnor opens up on player selection frustration as Ghana coach

By Lukman MUMIN, Accra

Former Black Stars coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor has disclosed the challenges he faced as the trainer of the national team, especially regarding justifying his player selection.

Akonnor was named Kwesi Appiah’s successor in 2020 after the senior national team was eliminated in the Round of 16 of the AFCON 2019 tournament in Egypt.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, the former Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak coach admitted that sometimes, he didn’t agree with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) regarding certain players he picked.

According to him, the process of calling players to join the senior national team was a mess.

“As a coach, you draw the list of players you want to use based on what you want to do. Obviously, other members of the FA will also bring their views on board, but it was sometimes uncomfortable.

“I understand that they have to look into it and that football isn’t done by one person alone. However, in my case, it wasn’t a situation where we were working together. It was a mess. When I went in to justify my selections, it was always very uncomfortable,” he said.

Selection of players into the national teams has been a recurring topic discussed by Ghanaians with many constantly questioning whether it is strictly based on merit or other external factors.

C.K. Akonnor’s comments confirm this time-hallowed narrative that the GFA has some level of influence in player selections into the country’s national teams.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars will wrap up their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a home game against Niger.

After failing to qualify, the team will not participate in the AFCON tournament, which is scheduled to be hosted in Morocco next year.