Too Much Politics in Blackstars-Lloyd Owusu

Former Black Stars striker Lloyd Owusu admits his hopes of making the African Nations Cup squad are being affected by politics.

The Yeovil Town Striker dreams of playing in the continent's premier competition in Ghana next month.

Owusu has not featured for Ghana since the build-up to last year's World Cup in Germany, when he tore a thigh muscle, sidelining him for a year.

Owusu said: "My people did speak to the Ghana coach six weeks ago.

"My agent said to him: 'Lloyd is scoring goals' but he was told they are not really looking at lower league players.

"My agent said Junior Agogo at Nottingham Forest is in the same division as him. "The coach said to my agent 'Junior is scoring regularly.' But at the time I had scored one more goal than him so he was contradicting himself.

"With African football a lot of it is political.

"I am hearing from my dad in Ghana they are picking players from Dubai who don't really play quality football.

"The likes of Agogo and Asamoah Gyan at Udinese are quality players but some of them, no disrespect, are just there for the sake of it.

"There are the likes of myself and Patrick Agyemang at Preston who are grafting our socks off to get into the national team.

"In an ideal world I would love to play in the African Nations, especially after I was on the verge of being in last year's World Cup but for the injury.

"At the end of the day all I can do is play well for Yeovil and hopefully they are still looking."

Meanwhile,Communications director of The Ghana Football Association,Mr Randy Abbey,speaking to allghanasoccer.com said, "The GFA is surprised by the comments of Lloyd Owusu.We invited him into the Blackstars when he wasn't even playing and scoring like this season.If the coach thinks he fits into his game plan,he will be invited.

"Every Ghanaian footballer like Owusu qualifies to play for the national team.We can only advise him to keep playing and score for his team.It is still not too late for the coach to invite him.

"We are yet to receive a communique from the coach if he has really spoken to Owusu's Agent.