Ghanaian forward Bernard Tekpetey has expressed frustration over his continued absence from the Black Stars, suggesting that factors beyond his performances on the pitch may be influencing his exclusion from the national team.
The 29-year-old believes his consistent performances at club level, particularly during his time in Germany, should have earned him more opportunities to represent Ghana.
Tekpetey, who earned his first Black Stars call-up at the age of 18, questioned why he has struggled to secure regular invitations despite delivering impressive performances throughout his career.
He pointed to his outstanding campaign with German side SC Paderborn, where he reportedly scored 10 goals and provided eight assists, yet failed to earn a return to the national team.
“If it’s not my time to be called, then why did they call me when I was 18? When I came, I came to prove to Ghanaians that I can do it,” he said.
The forward also questioned the selection criteria used by successive Black Stars technical teams, suggesting that players performing in European competitions have sometimes been overlooked in favour of others from less prominent leagues.
He expressed disappointment over situations where players featuring in the UEFA Champions League or Europa League, and contributing goals and assists, are overlooked while footballers from countries such as Slovakia, Cyprus and the Czech Republic receive invitations despite having limited goal contributions.
“Imagine you’re playing in Europe, playing in the Champions League or Europa League, scoring and providing assists, and all of a sudden the national team comes up and they don’t call you. Instead, they call somebody from Slovakia or Cyprus or Czech Republic, even with zero goals and zero assists. How would you feel?” he questioned.
Although he stopped short of mentioning any individuals or directly accusing officials of wrongdoing, Tekpetey suggested that the national team’s selection process operates with a different mentality.
Despite his disappointment, the forward insists his primary motivation remains excelling at club level, making himself proud and providing for his family rather than allowing the lack of international recognition to derail his career.
“You are not playing because of the national team. You are playing at your club because you want to excel, make yourself proud and take care of your family,” he added.
Tekpetey’s comments reignite the debate surrounding player selection and consistency in the Black Stars, particularly as Ghana continues to search for the right balance and quality ahead of upcoming international assignments.
