Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman clarifies his Black Stars status

Ghana and PAOK Saloniki defender Baba Abdul Rahman has clarified that he has not retired from international football, despite his absence from recent Black Stars call-ups.

The 30-year-old says he simply took a temporary break to focus on his health.

Rahman’s last appearance for Ghana came during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Central African Republic in Kumasi last September.

Although the Black Stars won that match, Rahman was jeered by sections of the crowd at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium each time he touched the ball.

In an interview with Joy Sports, the former Chelsea full-back opened up about the emotional impact of the experience:

“The booing didn’t affect me during the match — as a professional, you learn to deal with that. But after the final whistle, as I walked to the team bus, it really sank in.

“We had just won, so naturally, I expected some joy or support, but instead, I was still being booed. That part was tough to take.”

While many speculated that the fan backlash may have pushed Rahman into early international retirement, he insists that wasn’t the case. Instead, he chose to step back to recover physically and mentally.

“I hadn’t been fully fit for a while, and I felt it was the right time to focus on my body and recover properly,” he said.

“As for the incident at the stadium, I’ve moved on. It’s part of football, and I understand.”

Despite reportedly declining a call-up from coach Otto Addo, Rahman reiterated that his Black Stars journey isn’t over — he remains open to a return when he’s in peak condition.