Black Stars technical advisor Winfried Schäfer has delivered a strong message to home-based players, encouraging them to elevate their performance levels as competition for national team places intensifies ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The global tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an expanded 48-team format. Ghana have secured one of Africa’s nine automatic qualification slots and have been drawn in Group L alongside England, 2018 finalists Croatia, and Panama.

Despite the league’s rich history, locally based players have found it difficult to break into the Black Stars squad in recent years. Currently, Hearts of Oak captain and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare stands as the only regular home-based player in the team.

Schäfer, however, has assured that the technical team remains committed to closely monitoring the Ghana Premier League. Over the past two months, the experienced German tactician has visited several match venues to scout talents capable of strengthening the national team.

He was present over the weekend when Medeama SC edged Samartex on penalties to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the Ghana FA Cup, continuing his assessment of local prospects.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Medeama FM, Schäfer stressed that the door to the Black Stars remains open for players who consistently perform in the domestic league and other local competitions.

“The heart of football in Ghana is in the local league, not only with players in Europe. I urge all players to work hard if they want to earn a call-up into the Black Stars,” he stated.

Schäfer acknowledged the increasing competition within the national setup but urged local players not to feel intimidated by Europe-based stars. Instead, he encouraged them to use the competition as motivation to improve and push their limits.

His remarks come at a crucial period as the Black Stars technical team works to assemble a balanced and competitive squad capable of excelling on the continental and global stage.