Former Black Stars Captain, Stephen Appiah believes the inclusion of local players in the senior national team could play a key in Ghana’s performance at the 2022 AFCON tournament in Cameroon.
Akonnor received praise for calling up players from the Ghana Premier League for the final qualifying series of the AFCON tournament as well as friendly matches.
Speaking in an interview with TV3, Appiah said Akonnor’s decision to call-up local players only goes to show the competitiveness of the Ghana Premier League this season.
Asked whether the local players could be pivotal to Ghana’s success in the 2022 AFCON campaign, Appiah said:
“I think so because this season, the league is looking interesting and very competitive. He said.
“Years back there would have been a 12-year difference between the top two but this time around it is not like that.
“And all the teams have about 3 or 4 players that are outstanding and at a point we were not seeing that.
“That means they are doing well and our league is going well.”
Ghana will take on Morrocco and Cote D’Ivoire during the June International break.
C.K Akonnor’s squad for the two games included seven local players in Razak Abalora (Asante Kotoko), Ibrahim Danlad (King Faisal), Ismail Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko), Joseph Adjei (Legon Cities), Rashid Nortey (Medeama SC), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC) and Philemon Baffuor (Dreams FC).