Baba Rahman in action for PAOK against Manchester United
Photo Credit: PAOK/Facebook
Ghana defender, Baba Rahman says his decision to stay away from the national team is premised on focusing on his fitness level. Rahman, 30 , purportedly stayed away from the Black Stars due to jeers in Kumasi in Ghana’s AFCON qualifiers against Central Africa Republic in 2023 which happened to be his last match.
The former Asante Kotoko left back who plays in Greece for PAOK FC argues that his absence from the Black Stars stems from the idea to stay fit.
"It's a personal decision to take a break (from Ghana) to concentrate on my fitness because I've not had a great time with injuries," the left-back told BBC Sport Africa.
"When I joined PAOK last year, I just thought it was wise to stay away a bit from international football to get my fitness back. Fans are asking me all the time to come back to play for Ghana but I think I need to take care of my health before everything right now."
"People know about my injury history and it has really been a difficult few years. I just want to enjoy my club football again and then I know my international career will take off again too."
Return to national team
Baba Rahman spent a lengthy time in the treatment through series of injuries, with two ruptures to his anterior cruciate ligament between 2017 and 2020. The lanky defender shrugged off the lengthy injury lay-off to play at the 2021 AFCON and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with tournaments ending in group stage eliminations. After playing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Baba Rahman still harbours the ambition of returning to the Black Stars for another World Cup in Canada, USA and Mexico 2026.
"Of course I think about playing in another World Cup and I think Ghana is on the right path to qualify. At the moment I'm just concentrating on getting healthy, getting as many games in my legs as possible for PAOK. Then I'll see what happens in the future."
Rahman has played eight matches with two goals for PAOK FC in the 2024/25 Greek Super League this season. The former Schalke and Chelsea player has collected four matches with one goal under his sleeve in the UEFA Europa League this season. He previously played for Dreams FC and Kotoko in Ghana, Greuther Fürth and Augsburg in Germany and also French club Reims.
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