Ibrahim Sannie Daara
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, has cautioned the Black Stars against taking Somalia lightly ahead of their crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ghana host Somalia at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday, November 12, before the return fixture on Monday, November 16, in Matchdays 3 and 4.
Both games will be played in Ghana. The Black Stars sit bottom of Group C without a point after defeats to Ivory Coast and The Gambia, leaving the four-time African champions under pressure.
“Black Stars must not underrate Somalia because they also have players playing in Europe and they could cause us problems if we are not careful,” Sannie Daara told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.
He believes the home fixtures offer a chance to revive the campaign. “These games have offered the team a chance to revive their AFCON qualifiers campaign because there is no away game,” he said, adding that Ghana must “win both games to secure all six points.”
Sannie Daara also urged the technical team to prioritise quality in selection, regardless of where players are based.
“It does not matter whether the player is a local player or a foreign-based player. If that particular player is good enough to play for the Black Stars, he should be invited,” he said.
Interim technical team leader Kim Lars Björkegren is expected to announce his squad this week
Ghana are hoping to return to the AFCON, which Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host in 2027, after missing the 2025 edition in Morocco.
BY Wletsu Ransford