Charles Taylor advocates for greater inclusion of home-based players in the Black Stars

Former Ghanaian footballer Charles Taylor, has strongly advocated for the inclusion of more home-based players in the Black Stars, citing concerns about the current squad’s lackluster performance in recent times.

The Black Stars' struggles in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers have fueled this call.

Ghana is currently in third place in Group F with just two points from four matches, making qualification for the tournament increasingly unlikely.

Taylor, who has 16 caps for the national team, believes the poor form of the current crop of players calls for a new direction in national team selections.

"The current Black Stars players cannot be relied on. You can’t bet on them for better results," Taylor stated, reflecting on Ghana's disappointing performances in the AFCON qualifiers.

The team has yet to win a match in the group stage, sparking widespread frustration among fans and experts alike.

Taylor proposes that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) turn to home-based players in the Ghana Premier League (GPL), particularly as the youth national teams are not functioning at full capacity.

He emphasized that players from the local league, if properly nurtured, can form the foundation of a competitive Black Stars team in the future.

“Ghana Premier League success depends on the Black Stars. It’s time for us to resort to the GPL for players once the youth national teams are not functioning.

We should pick the best players in the league and groom them for the future,” Taylor suggested.

He also touched on the issue of patriotism, asserting that local players are more likely to show commitment and dedication to the national cause, which might be lacking in some foreign-based players who have not always delivered in critical moments.

This sentiment aligns with growing calls for a fresh approach to building the national team by relying more on homegrown talent.

With just two more matches to play in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers—against Angola and Niger—coach Otto Addo and the Black Stars face an uphill battle to salvage their qualification hopes.

Taylor’s comments add to the ongoing debate about how to best strengthen the national team for future international competitions.