Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, has explained the reason behind Abdul Baba Rahman's absence from the team for the games against Mali and Central African Republic (CAR).

The defender was one of the notable names left out of Addo's 26-man squad for the two upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

According to the gaffer, the player still continues to suffer from the reaction he received during Ghana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against CAR last year with a large number of the crowd booing him at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

That reception, saw Baba subsequently announce he will be away from the national team for the foreseeable future.

"I have seen his performances. At the moment he is not ready to come back. What happened in Kumasi affected him and his family a lot," Addo explained.

"We would have needed him very much. I had a long talk with him and I even wanted to fly there but he was sure he wouldn’t change his mind."

Baba Rahman enjoyed a good season with PAOK as he contributed nine goals in the side winning the Greece Super League.