Ghana Premier League Players Key To The Rise Of The Black Stars Stonebwoy

Ghanaian musician Livingstone Etse Satekla, popularly known as Stonebwoy, has urged for the integration of home-based players into the national team, the Black Stars, seeing them as key to the rise of the team.

The award-winning dancehall artist's call comes in light of the team's recent struggles, including their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Black Stars have faced a disappointing decline in performance, finishing bottom of Group F in the qualifiers after six matches without a single victory. Angola and Sudan secured the top two spots to advance, leaving Ghana in a challenging position.

In an interview with Asempa FM, the Stonebwoy emphasized the requirement of incorporating local talent into the national squad.

“It is very significant to have local players as part of the building of the national team," he said.

“The little I understand is that these teams need to be built from the grassroots, and local inclusion is key. We cannot just rely on players called from outside.

“We have to build a system where we can grow our own. If we cannot fish into the Black Stars from the Ghana Premier League, then what is the use of the Ghana Premier League? It’s very significant to include players from Ghana.

"If we cannot fish into the Black Stars from the Ghana Premier League, then what is the use of the Ghana Premier League? It’s very significant to include players from Ghana," he asserted.

Recently, five home-based players received call-ups for the AFCON qualifiers against Angola and Niger, indicating a potential shift towards recognizing local talent.