Ghana international Baba Rahman has disclosed the reason behind his initial decision to reject a call-up to the Black Stars for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan.
At the time, Rahman was recovering from a lengthy injury spell at Chelsea and had barely featured for the club. His inclusion in the national team by then-head coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor was met with heavy criticism, with many questioning the defender’s match fitness.
In an interview with Joy Sports, the former Asante Kotoko left-back explained that even he felt unprepared.
“I honestly didn’t feel I deserved the call-up at the time, so I initially rejected it,” Rahman admitted. “But the GFA and Coach CK [Akonnor] explained that they were short on left-backs and needed someone with my experience. That’s why I eventually accepted.”
Despite the backlash, Coach Akonnor stood by his decision, citing Rahman’s experience as crucial to the squad. However, Akonnor was relieved of his duties months later following Ghana’s poor start to the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Rahman's candid admission sheds light on the complex balance between player readiness and national team needs — and highlights the challenges both coaches and players face in high-pressure international call-ups.
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