2026 WCQ: “Local players have qualities to make Black Stars impact” - Asare

Photo Credit - Ghana Black Stars.

Ghana goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare has been sharing his excitement following his senior debut in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The 32-year-old earned his first call-up to the Black Stars for the two qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar where the four time African giants claimed six points in the double outing.

Asare kept a clean sheet in Ghana’s 5-0 mauling of Chad in Accra on March 21 before sustaining the same dose against Madagascar at the Al Hoceima Stadium in Morocco in the 3-0 victory three days later.

His performance drew a lot of debate with scores of Ghanaians clamouring for him to be number one ahead of Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Jojo Wollacott. The Korle Gorno born goalkeeper had this to say after the game against Madagascar;

“Now I have nothing much to say but the way they had belief in me and the way they supported me. Although not everyone will encourage you because people are different.

“But I will thank God for not disgracing me and I have done what they expect so thank all for their support and they should keep them coming and I won’t disappoint them,” Benjamin Asare told 3Sports.

The former Great Olympics goalkeeper has debunked the assertions that, the home based players do not have the quality to play for the Black Stars. Asare of Hearts of Oak, Razak Simpson and Kamaradini Mamudu were the local players invited by coach Otto Addo for the qualifiers.

Asare said: “Most of the time people think that if you are a local player you can’t fit into the national team but that is not entirely true. Because once you are a local player, it’s your aim to go far in your career so once you are invited, you should be given the chance to play.

“If the local players are good enough and you have interest in his qualities, give him the chance if you invite him.”

The Black Stars now lead Group I in the qualifiers with 15 points from six games with Madagascar trailing by five points. The remaining qualifiers come up in September.