Former Black Stars midfielder Yussif Chibsah has called for a structured quota system to guarantee opportunities for players in the Ghana Premier League to feature for the Black Stars, as Ghana awaits its first squad list under new head coach Carlos Queiroz ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s sports programme, World Cup Central, Chibsah argued that consistent exclusion of locally based players risks undermining the development of the domestic game.
“We cannot continue to ignore the Ghana Premier League players. There must be a quota system to ensure they are represented in the Black Stars,” he said.
Chibsah stressed that such a policy would not only motivate players in the local league but also strengthen the national team pool.
“It’s about giving them opportunities to prove themselves. If you don’t give them the platform, how do we assess them at the highest level? We need to create that pathway to improve them and our local league,” he added.
Chibsah’s remarks come amid heightened anticipation over Carlos Queiroz’s first call-up, with expectations of a possible shift in selection policy following criticism of the team’s reliance on foreign-based players.
However, his proposal has been challenged by two sports analysts, Michael Oti Adjei and Godfred Akoto Boafo, who both rejected the idea of a quota system, insisting that national team selection must remain strictly performance-based.
“The problem the Black Stars face now will not be solved by introducing a local player. There should never be a time when we have a quota system for local players in the Black Stars. A quota for local players in the Black Stars won’t take us anywhere because the world of football has moved on,” Oti Adjei stated.
Akoto Boafo echoed that position, arguing that the current standard of the domestic league does not justify enforced inclusion.
“I understand the sentiment and the emotions, but let me be blunt with you, there is nobody in the Ghana Premier League as it is now, who goes to the Black Stars and is a difference maker,” he said.
The debate adds another layer to the scrutiny surrounding Queiroz’s impending squad announcement, as Ghana continues preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“A quota for local players in the Black Stars won’t take us anywhere because the world of football has moved on!” – Ace sports journalist, @OtiAdjei and former Black Stars player, @CHIBSONY17 debate calls for a homebased quota for the Black Stars.
Full debate here:… pic.twitter.com/iTX55TMKAK
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) April 24, 2026
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