Baba Rahman opens up on national team absence

Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman has revealed the reasoning behind his decision to step away from the national team, emphasizing that his hiatus is rooted in managing his fitness rather than reactions from fans.

The 30-year-old left-back, currently playing for PAOK in Greece, addressed speculations surrounding his absence from the Black Stars.

In May 2024, head coach Otto Addo cited that fan criticism, including jeers during Rahman's last national team appearance, had influenced the player's choice.

However, Rahman clarified that his break was primarily to prioritize his physical well-being.

"It's a personal decision to take a break (from Ghana) to concentrate on my fitness because I've not had a great time with injuries," Rahman shared with BBC Sport Africa.

"When I joined PAOK last year, I just thought it was wise to stay away a bit from international football to get my fitness back."

Rahman’s injury history has been well-documented, having endured a challenging 999 days off the pitch between 2017 and 2020 due to severe injuries, including two ACL tears.

Although he returned to play in major tournaments such as the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2022 World Cup, both campaigns were cut short.

Reflecting on his current priorities, Rahman said, “Fans are asking me all the time to come back to play for Ghana, but I think I need to take care of my health before everything right now.

People know about my injury history, and it has really been a difficult few years. I just want to enjoy my club football again and then I know my international career will take off again too.”

Rahman's focus on regaining consistent fitness underscores the resilience needed after years of battling injuries, as he remains hopeful about rejoining the Black Stars when fully fit.