Henry Asante Twum, the Communications Director for the Ghana Football Association (GFA), explained why several important Black Stars players were missing from Ghana’s last two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
In November 2024, the GFA announced that eight key players, including Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, and Tariq Lamptey, had pulled out of the squad.
This led to disappointment among fans, with some questioning the players’ dedication to the national team.
In an interview with Asempa FM, Asante Twum defended the players, stating that their absences were due to legitimate reasons and not a lack of commitment.
“Tariq was injured. Semenyo’s club report indicated that, with his heavy workload, he was at risk of injury. Joseph Paintsil’s situation was family-related—his wife was about to give birth, and the coach granted him permission to be with her.
These were legitimate reasons, not because we doubted qualification,” he explained.
Asante Twum also highlighted the sacrifices these players make to represent Ghana, urging fans to show understanding.
“Sometimes, I put myself in their shoes. These players make a lot of sacrifices to play for Ghana. As soon as their club matches during international windows end, they rush to join the national team. That commitment should not go unnoticed,” he added.