As Ghana intensifies preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, former Black Stars head coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has thrown down the gauntlet to locally-based players in the squad, urging them to prove their worth in training and push for starting roles.

With Otto Addo naming Razak Simpson (Nations FC), Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak), and Kamaradini Mamudu (Medeama SC) in his squad for the upcoming clashes against Chad and Madagascar, the spotlight is on these homegrown talents. However, Akonnor insists that merely earning a call-up isn’t enough—they must make a statement.

“They have been invited, but they must show in training that they are more than just squad players,” Akonnor told Sportsblog247.com. “If they convince the technical team that they deserve a place in the lineup, the coach will have no choice but to use them.”

The three local stars took part in Ghana’s first training session on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the full squad set to assemble today. The Black Stars will face Chad on Friday, March 21, at 19:00 GMT before traveling to Morocco for their March 24 clash against Madagascar.

With competition heating up, will the local trio rise to the challenge and force Otto Addo into a selection dilemma?