Biased selection affects Black Stars more than party politics, says Waris

Ghana striker Abdul Majeed Waris has claimed that player selection for the Black Stars is influenced by internal politics.

In a live Instagram chat with the sports journalist Saddick Adams, the French-based player said call-ups to the Black Stars are influenced mostly by internal politics in the team, and not based on merit.

His comments follow those of Mubarak Wakaso, who backtracked after claiming that partisan politics affects the Black Stars.

“Foreign” scapegoats

However, the Strasbourg forward, who has played 34 times for the national team, argued that partisan politics is not as big a problem as suggested.

“I saw Wakaso making a comment that politics is affecting the Black Stars,” Waris said. “I feel that it is not the political thing that is affecting the performance of the players on the field, because politics does not play football.

“I think with the national team the politics affects the selection of players.

“With me, they call you from Europe when you’re performing and always drop you like a scapegoat for players who do not even play half a season. And I’m not going to talk about myself alone.”

Tourney tipping points

Waris added that biased player selection is the main problem bedevilling the Black Stars.

‘‘I feel the political aspect of player selection is something that is affecting the Black Stars.

“The selection is not based on your performance, it’s only based on politics in the team . . . It is something that affects us at tournaments because that’s the biggest stage that everyone wants to be part and that’s also when the politics get in a lot,” the striker said said.

Atsu Boye

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