Former Ghana international Mohammed Polo has delivered a blunt assessment of the current state of the Ghana Premier League, insisting that only Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Benjamin Asare possesses the quality required to represent the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on Connect FM, the legendary winger expressed deep disappointment with the standard of play in the domestic league, pointing to a recent Super Clash between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko as evidence of declining quality.
“I watched the Super Clash the other time and didn’t enjoy it because the players weren’t good enough,” Polo said. “Despite the red card for Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko couldn’t create anything significant, and it all came down to quality.”
The AFCON winner went further, declaring that apart from Asare — who has impressed with his shot-stopping and command of the box — no other player in the Ghana Premier League meets the standard needed for a global tournament like the World Cup.
“Apart from Benjamin Asare, no Ghana Premier League player is quality enough to be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” he stated firmly.
Ghana’s campaign in Group L begins against Panama on June 17, followed by England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27. The Black Stars will prepare with friendlies against Austria and Germany in March, and a final warm-up against Mexico in May. The squad will be based at Bryant University in the United States during the tournament.
Polo’s comments highlight a long-standing debate in Ghanaian football: the heavy reliance on overseas-based players for major competitions and the perceived gap between the domestic league and international demands. While some fans and analysts argue that consistent game time and exposure at home can produce World Cup-ready talent, Polo believes the current Premier League environment falls short.
