Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has confirmed that defender Mohammed Salisu will play for the Black Stars.
Okraku reveals that the Southampton central defender is now ready to join the Black Stars following their second meeting on Saturday.
Okraku had a fruitful discussion with Salisu and his father at home. The main topic was Salisu’s delay in representing the Black Stars, with former Valladolid man assuring Okraku that he will soon join the team.
“Great seeing you with that big smile…Proud son of the land who is proud to give back what football has given him…Ready to serve and looking forward to our common future with all the positive energy in you. God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong,” Okraku wrote on Facebook.
This meeting follows the one in early May in Southampton, where Salisu expressed his willingness to play for the Black Stars but refused to commit to a specific date when he will be available for selection.
This is certainly good news for Ghanaian football fans, who are desperate for a strong Black Stars squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Salisu had previously turned down multiple offers from the GFA to represent his birth country, claiming he was not ready.
There were numerous attempts to get Salisu to play for Ghana at the international level, but none were successful.
Salisu was first called up by former coach Kwasi Appiah in November 2019 for the start of the 2021 Afcon qualifiers, but the then-Real Valladolid player failed to show up citing a rib injury.
CK Akonnor, who succeeded Kwasi Appiah as Black Stars head coach a few months later, was also unsuccessful in his pursuit of the player.
The 23-year-old is without a doubt one of Ghana’s best players in Europe, putting in top-tier performances in the Premier League. He finished the 2021-22 season with the most interceptions.
