Former Ghanaian football captain, Stephen Appiah, has expressed concern over the ineffective transition of players from youth national teams to the senior national team, the Black Stars. He believes this lack of continuity has negatively impacted the team’s performance in recent years.

Addressing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports last month, which is investigating the Save Ghana Football petition, Appiah emphasized the importance of nurturing talent through the ranks. He noted that in the past, players from the U-17 level would move up together to the U-20 and eventually the Black Stars, fostering cohesion and understanding within the team.

“Back then, we played on rough, barren pitches without proper equipment, yet we achieved our goals. Today, players have better facilities, but the team still struggles. The constant rotation of new players, without promoting a core group from youth teams, is hurting the development of the national team,” Appiah said.

He urged the authorities to address this issue and create a sustainable path for young talent to progress seamlessly into the senior team.