Mustapha Ussif, Minister of Youth and Sports, has criticised national team players for being disloyal when called upon to represent the country in big events.
His comments come after a spate of dismal performances by various national teams, which have been blamed on a lack of sufficient facilities as well as a lack of devotion on the part of players.
Ghana’s most recent bad tournament performance came a few weeks ago in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
According to Moroccan reports, some players were hesitant to play the crucial game against Guinea at the competition due to delayed bonuses, resulting in Ghana’s early exit as they failed to meet their target of finishing in the top three to qualify for the next Olympic Games.
“I find it very difficult to comprehend and understand that the state will make all the resources available by making sure that we want to give opportunity to all our national teams, get them flight tickets for camping opportunities, accommodate them for a very long period, feed them, give them trial matches, then when these players get to the tournament, instead of focusing on the tournament, the focus is now on bonuses,” he said during the 29th Ordinary Congress in Kumasi.
“Is time for our players to value the national colours, the flag of our country, the flag of our nation.”
Despite beating Congo in their first game, Ghana was defeated 5-1 by Morocco before being held to a 1-1 tie by Guinea in a must-win game that saw them eliminated.
Ghana’s chances of returning to the Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament after a 20-year hiatus were dashed.
