Ghana defender Baba Rahman says opting out of Ghana’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is best for his career and in the interest of the Black Stars.
Baba asked not to be considered for selection in the final squad despite being named in the provisional 55-man squad.
The 29-year-old has not made a Black Stars team since playing over an hour in September in Ghana’s final qualifying game for the tournament. During that game, he was booed by the crowd for his performance.
Hughton named the squad on Monday morning without Baba in the team. This season, the former Chelsea man has featured in 15 games in all competitions and provided two assists.
“The last few years I have had to battle injuries and recovery times and I feel that it’s best in the interest of my career and that of the team to only play when I don’t have to think about recovery or pain- that way I can always give my best to the team,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The life span of a footballer is very short and sometimes we have to make these tough calls for the general interest of the nation we love the most and that of career to enable longevity.”
