Frimpong MansoFormer Ghana international Frimpong Manso has urged the Black Stars interim technical team to give more locally based players an opportunity in the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Somalia.Ghana will face Somalia in a double-header in the Matchday 3 and 4 fixtures later this month, with the first encounter scheduled for November 12 before the return fixture on November 16. Both matches are expected to be played in Ghana.Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, Manso said the upcoming international window presents an ideal opportunity to assess players from the Ghana Premier League, particularly with some key foreign-based players dealing with injuries and fitness concerns.He stressed that including more domestic-based players should not be viewed as underestimating Somalia but rather as an opportunity to strengthen the squad and reward players capable of making meaningful contributions to the national team.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.The former coach also cautioned the technical team against selecting foreign-based players who may not be sufficiently fit or playing regularly at club level to make an impact for Ghana.He specifically pointed to the fitness concerns surrounding Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo, suggesting that the technical team should explore alternative options rather than rely on players who might not be at their best.If you call Kudus, theres no way he will come, and even if he does come, he wont 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 Ghana can assemble a competitive squad by selecting a significant number of players from the domestic league and complementing them with foreign-based professionals who are fit and committed to the national cause.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 dont perform. We call those that will come and give their best, he said.He further noted that the demanding schedules in Europe’s major leagues could affect some players’ readiness for international duty, insisting that commitment and match fitness should be key considerations in the selection process.Manso is convinced that the domestic league has enough quality to provide the Black Stars with valuable options, while a call-up would also give local players an opportunity to prove their worth at the highest level.The interim technical team, led by head coach Kim Lars Bjrkegren, is expected to announce its squad this week ahead of the two matches.Ghana head into the double-header under pressure after suffering consecutive defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia in their opening Group C fixtures.The Black Stars are yet to record a victory in the qualifiers and will be targeting maximum points from both encounters to revive their campaign and improve their chances of securing a place at the 2027 tournament.The matches also offer Ghana an opportunity to rebuild confidence following their failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.