Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has pointed to cultural differences as a key factor contributing to the struggles faced by foreign-born players in adapting to the national team.
In recent years, several dual-nationality players have chosen to represent Ghana, yet many have found it challenging to integrate into the Black Stars.
Notably, Inaki Williams has scored just once in 19 appearances, while Antoine Semenyo’s involvement has been inconsistent. Additionally, players like Ransford Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Stephen Ambrosius have struggled to secure regular call-ups.
Appiah expressed his concerns during an appearance before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, stating, “We, who are coming from here, know what it feels like to wear this shirt, and some of these foreign-based players can’t even speak our language.
When you go to the camp today, it’s not like it was in our time. ”He reminisced about the camaraderie that used to flourish within the team, saying, “After lunch or dinner, we would sit and interact. But now, because they do not know the culture, they find it difficult to adapt.
”A veteran of Ghana’s football history, Appiah led the team to their first-ever World Cup in 2006 and was instrumental in their remarkable quarter-final run in South Africa. Over his career, he made 67 appearances for Ghana, scoring 15 goals.
