Ibrahim Sannie Daara, former Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), is advocating for Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars, to expand their selection criteria and consider calling up Bernard Tekpetey, who has been in excellent form for Ludogorets in Bulgaria.

Though Tekpetey has shown consistent skill and performance in the Bulgarian league over the past four seasons, the 27-year-old has only represented the Black Stars twice—both appearances during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, where he made a substitute appearance and started in the third-place playoff.

With the Black Stars’ hopes of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON hanging in the balance, Sannie Daara believes it’s time to look beyond players in Europe’s elite leagues. “We should consider players outside the top leagues. Bernard Tekpetey’s performances in Bulgaria deserve attention,” Daara shared on GHOne TV. “Why should he be overlooked just because he’s in the Bulgarian league?”

Currently, Ghana sits third in Group F with two points, and their qualification hopes could be over even before they face Angola on Friday. Second-placed Sudan, needing just a draw, will face Niger in a Thursday fixture, which could secure their qualification and leave Ghana out of contention.