Local players must prove themselves to earn Black Stars call-ups – Asamoah Gyan

Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan says players in the Ghana Premier League must show they can compete at the highest international level if they hope to secure places in the national team.

His comments follow ongoing discussions about the limited number of locally based players in recent Black Stars squads, particularly during major international competitions. Critics have argued that the growing dependence on foreign-based players and those born abroad has reduced opportunities for homegrown talents.

Speaking on World Cup Central on Channel One TV on Friday, May 8, 2026, the former striker, popularly known as Baby Jet, stressed that national team selection should be based on performance and competitiveness at the international level.

According to him, many local players during his era earned their spots because they consistently proved themselves against top opposition.

Gyan recalled that he broke into the national team as a locally based player and successfully replaced foreign-based players through strong performances. He also pointed to a period when clubs in the Ghana Premier League supplied a significant number of players to the national team.

Referencing a notable match against Nigeria national football team, he said a largely Accra Hearts of Oak squad represented Ghana and held their own against a Nigerian side featuring stars like Jay-Jay Okocha.

However, he questioned whether the current generation of local players is doing enough to convince coaches that they can perform at the international level.

The former Sunderland AFC forward added that coaches of the Black Stars are under pressure to deliver results and will naturally choose players they believe are capable of competing on the global stage.