Former Ghana international Derek Boateng has strongly opposed calls for the Black Stars to invite diaspora players Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that their inclusion could disrupt team harmony.
The England-based duo have come under renewed discussion following Ghana’s qualification for the tournament. However, neither Nketiah nor Hudson-Odoi featured in the qualification campaign, nor did they clearly commit to switching international allegiance despite previous approaches by the Ghana Football Association.
Speaking on Sporty FM, Boateng argued that inviting the two players at this stage would be unfair to those who helped the team qualify.
“They should not be called. I don’t think it is fair,” he said.
Drawing from personal experience, the former midfielder recalled a similar situation during his playing days with the national team.
“I quite remember when I was with the national team, we went to Congo to play qualification, Kelvin [Prince Boateng] was invited but he did not show up. We played England next and he came to the hotel, and we made sure he was out of the squad,” Boateng recounted.
He stressed that football is built on unity and commitment, warning that late call-ups of players who were absent during the qualifiers could destabilise the squad.
“Football is teamwork, and bringing them will create a lot of chaos and trouble in the national team. Players have friends in the national team,” he added.
Eddie Nketiah, who has made just one senior appearance for England, has scored four goals for Crystal Palace in all competitions this season. Callum Hudson-Odoi, a three-time England international, has found the net three times for Nottingham Forest this term.
Meanwhile, Ghana has been drawn into Group L at the 2026 World Cup, where the Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama before facing England and Croatia.
Boateng expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to compete against the European heavyweights but cautioned against underestimating Panama, who are making only their second World Cup appearance.
“England is not tough for us. England is afraid of us,” he claimed. “The team we have to look at more is Panama, and I feel like we have to make sure we win that game.”
The debate over diaspora call-ups is expected to continue as Ghana’s technical team prepares for the global showpiece next year
