Posted by Fiorentina midfielder Alfred Duncan has hit back at the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku over claims that the he turned down the chance to play for Ghana at the 2021 TotalEnergies African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana just recently endured their worst display at the AFCON. The Black Stars were knocked out of the group stages of the tournament in Cameroon following a 3-2 defeat to minnows Comoros in the final group game on Tuesday evening.
The team for the first time in their history bowed out of an AFCON campaign without winning a single game.
Speaking for the first time after the disappointing display, GFA boss, Kurt Okraku divulged that Alfred Duncan turned down the chance to play for Ghana at the tourney, adding that only players who were ready to serve the country were called for the tournament.
“Alfred Duncan has had the opportunities to serve Ghana and he has not responded,” he told Accra based Asempa FM.
“I don’t want to be picking on individual players but players who were ready to serve Ghana were selected to represent Ghana,” he added.
Reacting to the comments, Alfred Duncan took to his Twitter account and wrote: “People tarnishing my image in Ghana. I don’t want to start talking for Ghanaians to connect the dots so please let’s respect ourselves.”
People tarnishing my image in Ghana. I don’t want to start talking for Ghanaians to connect the dots so please let’s respect ourselves ☝🏾
— Joe Alfred Duncan (@Fredinho41) January 20, 2022
Alfred Duncan, who’s enjoying a fine season with Fiorentina in Italy hasn’t represented the Black Stars since 2020 in a AFCON qualifier against South Africa in Cape Coast.
In October 2021, he was handed a called-up for Ghana’s FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifiers against Zimbabwe. However, he failed to honour the invitation citing personal reasons.
Duncan wasn’t named in Ghana’s squad for the 2021 AFCON as Ghana endured their worst display in the tournament’s history.
Know that Ghana nurtured you to the level you are. If not sickness you don’t have any excuse what soever to turn down invitation to play for Ghana. Is highly unpatriotic & disrespect to Ghanaians which demands apology, else never expect favours from Ghanaians.
Shut up !!! Do you have evidence of him turning down the national call to duty? People are asked to pay money before giving the opportunity into the national team. Your GFA and the technical bench are just in to make money and do not have the nation at heart. Same thing was done to Christian Atsu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Afful Harrison and more….
He’s smart. FLORITINA IS PAYING HIS BILLS. HE NEEDS FIRST 11 SELECTION. LARYEA KINGSTON PREFERRED COUNTRY TO CLUB. HIS NATION EVENTUALLY DID NOT PICK HIM.
AFTER RECOVERING FROM INJURY PLAYING FOR THE BLACKS MICHEAL ESSIEN GOT THE IDEA AND NEVER AGAIN RISK CLUB FOR COUNTRY. THE BREAD IS ALWAYS BUTTERED AT THE CLU LEVEL. IT’S THE AYEWS WHO NEVER FAIL FROM FATHER TO SONS.