07.09.23. Kumasi is a city of loud cheers, particularly for football and the Black Stars, but this time, the heap of praise turned into boos of goodbyes.
It was not an ordinary day when the fans chanted “Alidu the GOAT” or “Sewaaa Yaba ooo”—today was different. Fans wanted Baba Rahman out; after every kick, they screamed and booed him off.
Andre Ayew, Captain of the Black Stars, signalled to Baba Rahman on the touchline. After a ballooned cross, Baba had had enough. Ayew nodded, and Baba went down, calling for help.
The medics hurried over, but Baba shook his head—it was not a knock—clearly, he wanted out, and his statement hereinafter affirmed his loss of faith on the pitch.
“In the interest of my career and that of the team, I believe it’s best to play when I don’t have to worry about recovery or pain. This way, I can consistently contribute my best to the team, “Baba Rahman stated in January 2024
Baba Rahman had opted out of participating for Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations—his last appearance was against the Central African Republic in September 2023.
Why Ghana Needs Baba Rahman Back
The Black Stars undoubtedly have enormous talent; however, the left-back role needs a revamp, and perhaps an old guard can do a better job.
Baba Rahman’s 52 appearances for the Stars rank him as one of the senior members of the team outright, and his experience is sought after following the AFCON qualifier disaster.
Baba Rahman has once more turned the tides since re-joining PAOK in 2023, and Ghana may benefit from his return.
The Ghanaian defender quickly reclaimed his name, especially among PAOK fans, contributing to 9 goals in 24 starts—just two shy of Brandon Thomas, who led the line for the White-Blacks. After making good strides in the 2023-24 season, the Ghanaian has been a standout for PAOK this Greece Super League season, ranking among the top scorers of the club.
At 30, Baba Rahman has the most goals by a defender in the Stoiximan Super League and has scored the second-highest number of goals for PAOK this season in the league.
Baba has definitely turned the tide on his injury-laden career.
The former Asante Kotoko player is in the best form of his life, and his return to the Black Stars could be paramount to Ghana’s success at the next World Cup.
Following the recent struggles in the qualifying series, Ghana could look to their old love, Baba, for his expertise in these torrid times.
