Former Ghana international Frimpong Manso has urged the Black Stars interim technical team to give more locally based players an opportunity in the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Somalia.

Ghana will face Somalia in a double-header in the Matchday 3 and 4 fixtures later this month, with the first encounter scheduled for November 12 before the return fixture on November 16. Both matches are expected to be played in Ghana.

Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, Manso said the upcoming international window presents an ideal opportunity to assess players from the Ghana Premier League, particularly with some key foreign-based players dealing with injuries and fitness concerns.

He stressed that including more domestic-based players should not be viewed as underestimating Somalia but rather as an opportunity to strengthen the squad and reward players capable of making meaningful contributions to the national team.

The former coach also cautioned the technical team against selecting foreign-based players who may not be sufficiently fit or playing regularly at club level to make an impact for Ghana.

Manso believes Ghana can assemble a competitive squad by selecting a significant number of players from the domestic league and complementing them with foreign-based professionals who are fit and committed to the national cause.

The interim technical team, led by head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, is expected to announce its squad this week ahead of the two matches.

Credit: ghanasoccernet.com