The president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, has been forced to defend the recent snub of locally-based players by Black Stars coach Avram Grant.
 
Only one player from the Ghanaian leagues made the selection for the friendly games against Senegal and Mali, prompting head of of the country's Premier League Board Welbeck, Abrah-Appiah, to condemn the development.
 
"It is very unfortunate to hear that the list has been released with only one local based player," Abrah-Appiah complained. 

"This is a friendly game and it's very important that we open the doors to those playing in the domestic scene; that will also encourage them."
 
But Nyantakyi believes the way to go is to focus only players seen as the best, insisting that competition is tough.
 
"Are you going to bench Asamoah Gyan, Agyemang Badu or Andre Ayew just because Gilbert Fiamenyo or Nathaniel is our best player in the domestic league? I don't think it will make sense," Nyantakyi told the media in Accra.
 
"There is some populism in that view but I don't think it's the best way to select players for the team.
 
"Every national team selects its best players regardless of where they ply their trades. It is never intentional to downplay or disregard locally based players."

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