Ex-Ghana international Frimpong Manso says the Black Stars can beat Somalia whoever starts, and wants domestic-league talent given a real shot.
Ghana's Black Stars need a spark in their stuttering AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, and former international Frimpong Manso believes they already have the quality to find it against Somalia, whichever players get the nod.
The two sides meet in a double-header on November 12 and 16, with both fixtures expected to be staged on Ghanaian soil. For a team looking to get its qualification bid back on track, anything short of a strong home showing would raise fresh questions.
Manso has urged the interim technical team, led by Black Queens boss Kim Lars Björkegren, to open the door to locally based players. The former Asante Kotoko player and coach argues the Ghanaian domestic league has plenty of talent capable of strengthening the national side, and this window is the perfect chance to prove it.
Still, he is not telling Ghana to switch off. Manso warned that no opponent in Africa can be treated as a pushover, pointing out that the continental game has grown fast and that CAF's decision to expand the number of teams at its tournaments has raised standards across the board. Backing local players, he stressed, does not mean Somalia lack the ability to play.
Even so, his verdict is clear: on quality alone, Ghana should have little trouble getting the job done at home. The challenge for the Black Stars is to show the right attitude and turn that belief into six points.
