Tekpetey Demands Answers Over Black Stars Snub: 'I'm Scoring in Europe While Others With Zero Goals Get Called Up'

Bernard Tekpetey, the Ghanaian winger plying his trade with Bulgarian champions Ludogorets, has fired a pointed challenge at the Black Stars technical team, demanding clarity over why he continues to be excluded from national team squads despite regularly competing — and contributing — in UEFA continental competitions.

Speaking in a candid interview, Tekpetey expressed deep frustration at a situation he describes as both confusing and demoralising. The forward has been a consistent performer for Ludogorets in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, registering goals and assists at a level many of his overlooked peers cannot match.

In His Own Words: A Player's Frustration Laid Bare

Tekpetey did not mince his words. "If it's not my time to be called up, why did they call me when I was 18? I came to prove to Ghanaians that I could do it. So why wasn't I called up again after that?" he asked, referencing the Black Stars debut he earned as a teenager — a call-up that appeared to signal a bright international future, only for subsequent invitations to dry up without clear explanation.

Even more striking was his direct comparison with players who have been selected ahead of him. "When you're playing in Europe, competing in the Champions League or Europa League, scoring goals and providing assists, but the national team comes around and you're overlooked for players from Slovakia, Cyprus or the Czech Republic who have zero goals and assists, how would you feel? You would feel very bad," he said.

The comments have resonated strongly with Ghanaian football fans, many of whom have taken to social media to echo his concerns and demand that the technical team provide a transparent explanation for its selection decisions.

Why It Matters for Ghana

Tekpetey's grievance touches on a debate that has simmered within Ghanaian football circles for years — the question of whether Black Stars call-ups are truly merit-based. Ghana's national team has faced criticism in the past for selections that appeared to prioritise players based on factors other than recent form, with some fans and pundits pointing to inconsistencies between a player's club output and their international recognition.

The Black Stars are currently in a rebuilding phase following a difficult 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, and the technical team is under pressure to identify and settle on a core group capable of guiding the country through upcoming qualification campaigns and tournaments. In that context, leaving out a player of Tekpetey's experience and current form — particularly one active in UEFA competition — raises legitimate questions about the direction and philosophy of the squad.

Bulgaria's Premier League may not carry the glamour of England's top flight or Spain's La Liga, but Ludogorets regularly qualify for European competition and face high-quality opposition. Contributing meaningfully in those matches is no small feat, and many supporters argue it should count for more than it apparently does in the selectors' reckoning.

Growing Calls for Transparency

Tekpetey's public outburst is unlikely to be the last from players on the fringes of the Black Stars setup. As Ghana prepares for the road ahead — including Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the long-term goal of another FIFA World Cup appearance — pressure is mounting on the technical team to clearly articulate its selection criteria.

• Supporters are increasingly calling for the Ghana Football Association and the coaching staff to hold open briefings or publish selection rationale after squad announcements.
• Several other Ghanaian players based abroad have previously hinted at similar frustrations, suggesting Tekpetey's situation is not isolated.
• The debate also raises broader questions about how Ghana scouts and monitors its diaspora and Europe-based players on a consistent basis.

For now, Tekpetey has made his position clear — he wants to wear the Black Stars jersey again and believes his performances have more than earned him that right. Whether the technical team responds with action or silence will speak volumes about where Ghana's football is truly headed.