Ghana head coach, CK Akonnor has firmly indicated he will not pursuing defender Salisu Mohammed until the defender makes himself available.
The Southampton centre-back has avoided call-ups to the Black Stars for nearly two years now.
Salisu was first considered for the Ghana senior national team by former coach Kwasi Appiah prior to the start of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers but the youngster could not honour the invitation with then his club – Real Valladolid – citing a hip injury.
Appiah left the job early last year and his successor Akonnor has since made attempts to get Salisu into his squad, efforts which have continued to prove futile.
Salisu made a switch to the Premier League last summer. While struggling to find his feet with the Saints, the youngster granted an interview in which he indicated he was not yet ready to combine club football with international assignments.
Explaining Salisu’s constant absence especially in his last two call-ups, coach Akonnor referenced the 22-year-old’s interview granted in March to explain his decision.
“Salisu made a comment that when he is ‘ready.’
“When a player makes a comment like that, there should be an issue. I’ve had a chance to communicate with one of his people through him.
“And the lesson is that we would have to wait until he is ready. And that’s it,” the Black Stars gaffer told journalists in a Zoom conversation.
Mohammed Salisu, after a good pre-season, appears to cement his spot in the Southampton starting line-up in the new Premier League season.
