Former Ghana international and respected coach Frimpong Manso has urged the Black Stars interim technical team to select more local players for their upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Somalia.

Ghana will neck-it-down with Somalia on November 12 and 16, with both matches expected to be played in Ghana.

Speaking to Sporty FM, Manso said the games are a good chance to test Ghana Premier League players, especially as key foreign-based players Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo have fitness concerns.

“I feel this is the opportunity to try and give the local players a chance. I feel we can get about five players who have the ability and quality, then we can add the foreign-based players to them,” he told Sporty FM.

He also warned the technical team against selecting players who are not fully fit or playing regularly for their clubs.

“If you call Kudus, there’s no way he will come, and even if he does come, he won’t give his best because he returned from injury and is gaining some match fitness. Semenyo is also injured, so who are we calling to the national team?” he added.

Manso believes the Black Stars can build a competitive squad by selecting more players from the domestic league and combining them with fit foreign-based professionals.

“We should be able to call half of the team from the local league, then we can add the rest from other leagues. But not necessarily that they don’t perform. We call those that will come and give their best,” he said.

Interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his technical team are expected to announce their squad this week.

Ghana head into the double-header without a point after losing their opening Group C matches against Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. They will be desperate to win both games to revive their qualification campaign.