Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman has clarified that he has not retired from international football, despite his absence from the Black Stars since November 2023.
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In an interview with Joy Sports, the PAOK left-back explained that he took a break for both emotional and physical reasons. His decision followed a difficult experience during Ghana’s final AFCON 2023 qualifier against the Central African Republic, where fans booed him at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
“The booing didn’t affect me during the match. But after the final whistle, as I walked to the team bus, it hit me. We had just won, yet I was still being booed. That was tough,” Rahman recalled.
He stressed that the break was also necessary for recovery. “I hadn’t been fully fit for a while. It was the right time to focus on my health. I’ve moved on from the Kumasi incident, it’s part of football,” he said.
The former Chelsea player confirmed he remains committed to returning to national duty. “I’ll be back soon, God willing. I’m in regular contact with the coach. It’s just been bad timing with injuries around every international break. But I’m working hard and will be ready.”
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has previously spoken of his desire to have Rahman back, praising the defender’s experience and quality.
Rahman last played for Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the team narrowly missed the knockout stage.
