Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman has clarified that he has not retired from international football, despite a long absence from the Black Stars squad. The PAOK left-back, who last played for Ghana in November 2023, has been away from the team following a turbulent experience at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi during Ghana’s final AFCON 2023 qualifier against the Central African Republic — a match in which he was booed by sections of the crowd.
Speaking exclusively to Joy Sports, the former Chelsea player addressed the situation and reaffirmed his desire to return to national duty.
“The booing didn’t affect me during the match — as a professional, you learn to block that out. But walking to the team bus after the game, it hit me hard,” Rahman shared.
“We had just qualified, and I expected a bit of joy or appreciation. But the boos continued. That moment really hurt.”
Rahman explained that stepping away from the Black Stars was not solely due to that incident. He cited a combination of emotional strain and physical challenges as key reasons behind his decision.
“I hadn’t been at my best physically for a while, and I needed to take time off to properly heal. Emotionally too, it was important to reset. But I’ve moved on — I understand that criticism is part of football.”
Despite his absence, Rahman made it clear that he’s working toward a return.
“I haven’t retired. I’ve been in constant communication with the coach. Every international break, it seems something crops up with my fitness. But I’m training hard and, God willing, I’ll be back soon.”
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has previously acknowledged Rahman’s importance to the team, pointing to his experience and quality as vital attributes, especially as Ghana builds toward future tournaments.
Rahman was a key member of Ghana’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the team narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stage.
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For now, the 29-year-old continues to focus on regaining full fitness with PAOK, while keeping his sights firmly set on wearing the Ghana jersey again.
source: myjoyonline
