The Black Stars trainer illuminates the defender’s prospects in national colors
Ghana’s coach CK Akonnor announced that the Football Association (GFA) was still unable to win former Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu for the Black Stars.
The 21-year-old, who is about to join the English club Southampton, attracted attention last season with a number of outstanding performances in the Spanish La Liga and is said to have aroused the interest of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid.
Ghana’s national team management quickly gave him an international opportunity, but the central defender declined his first assignment last November and still hasn’t volunteered for the Black Stars’ national campaign.
“Yes, we tried to reach him [Salisu Mohammed] but we were unsuccessful, “Akonnor told Angel TV.
After Salisu announced his breakthrough in the league last season, Ghanaian coach James Kwasi Appiah gave the central defender a first double-header in the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2021 against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in November .
However, the man from Valladolid withdrew from the games and cited an injury as the reason.
In March this year, the new Ghanaian coach Akonnor Salisu shockingly left a 23-member squad to qualify against Sudan. He found that he had not been able to contact the player.
The unveiling sparked controversy as many questioned the player’s patriotism, while others speculated about a possible international future with Spain as the reason for its alleged lack of interest.
“I tried to get in touch with Salisu, it didn’t work,” said Akonnor at the press conference in March after announcing his first squad as Ghanaian coach.
“The last time we played was against South Africa [and Sao Tome and Principe] he was invited [but] he has not come I am still in contact with him to find out his reasons. “
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Salisu only left Ghana in 2017 and moved from the African Talent Football Academy to Valladolid.
In his first season, he played 13 league games for the B team of the Spanish team and doubled the number of games in 2018-19.
He was drafted into the first team last season and didn’t disappoint as he played 31 times in the league, started 30 games, scored once and provided a template.
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