Stonebwoy calls for Black Stars opportunities for homegrown players

Ghanaian reggae and dancehall artist Stonebwoy has advocated for the inclusion of home-based players in the Black Stars.

The Black Stars have faced significant challenges in recent years, with successive group-stage exits at the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, followed by their failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON.

These setbacks confirm that the four-time AFCON champions are in a deep crisis.

As fans and the media call for reforms to help restructure the team, Stonebwoy has added his voice to the discussion.

During an interview with Asempa FM, the dancehall artist emphasized the importance of including homegrown talent in the national team setup and questioned why Ghana is not reaping the benefits of its local league.

“It is very important to have local players as part of the building of the national team. The little I understand is that these teams need to be built from the grassroots, and local inclusion is key. We cannot just rely on players called from outside.

“We have to build a system where we can grow our own. If we cannot fish into the Black Stars from the Ghana Premier League, then what is the use of the Ghana Premier League? It’s very important to include players from Ghana,” he said.

In November 2024, Head Coach Otto Addo handed call-ups to several home-based players, including Emmanuel Antwi (Kotoko), Ebenezer Abban (Medeama SC), Jerry Afriyie (Thought FC), Kamaradini Mamudu (Heart of Lions), and Isaac Afful (FC Samartex), for Ghana’s matches against Angola and Niger.

FKA/EK