When it comes to Africa's footballing nations, Ghana might not be the strongest team, but from Asamoah Gyan to Michael Essien, it has produced some excellent footballers in the past.
In 2006, the Black Stars announced themselves to the world by qualifying for the World Cup for the very first time, before becoming only the third country from the continent to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
This resurgence of a sleeping giant, however, hit a glass ceiling when they failed to qualify for the Russian edition two years ago, something which resulted in Ghana dropping by 47 places in the world rankings.
None of this might have happened had some of the talented players in the circuit right now, who represent other nations, had instead opted to play for them internationally.
Here's how Ghana's XI would've looked in such a case:
Goalkeeper: Corey Addai (England/Barnsley)
When it comes to goalkeepers, Ghana hasn’t produced any well-known players historically. So it's fair to say the number one spot isn’t particularly the strongest in the team, while there haven’t been many in that position who opted to represent other nations either.
Corey Addai and Adam Larsen Kwarasey turned out to be the only notable players between the sticks with Ghanian heritage, but with the latter having already featured for the Black Stars a couple of times, London-born Addai is the pick for this XI.
Despite his current nationality, the 22-year old is yet to feature for the Three Lions at any level while there have been no reports of Ghana’s national side making any contact with the keeper, either. Addai hasn’t revealed his intentions too, but given the competition for places in the England squad, he might go the other way.
Right-back: Tariq Lamptey (England/Brighton & Hove Albion)
Now here’s someone who has been contacted by the Ghana FA about a possible switch in the future. Lamptey, who’s also born in London, has made several appearances for England’s U18, U19, and U20 teams but his chances of breaking into the senior team remain slim.
He’s a right-back by trade, a position which is packed to the rafters with big names such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Kieran Trippier, and even Reece James. So in all likelihood, the defender might have to switch to Ghana to pursue his international career.
A product of Chelsea’s youth system, Lamptey is another youngster blooded by Frank Lampard to the first team this season, but due to a lack of playing time, he joined Brighton in January permanently and helped the side stave off relegation with impressive showings after the season reconvened.
Centre-back: Ethan Ampadu (Wales/Chelsea)
The 19-year old plays for Wales, where his mother hails from, but he was also eligible to represent England, his country of birth; Ireland, where he was raised; and even Ghana, where his grandfather was from.
In May 2017, at the age of 16, he was called by the Dragons to the senior squad and made his international debut later in November. Ampadu, a centre-back, is stoic, commands great authority on the pitch, and played regularly for Wales in the Euro 2021 qualifying.
His development in the 2019/20 season was stymied due to a lack of game time at Leipzig before sustaining a back injury in March that ruled him out for the rest of the season. However, given his age and all the qualities Ampadu brings to the pitch, he looks set to be a regular in the Welsh side for the next decade.
Centre-back: Jerome Boateng (Germany/Bayern Munich)
Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng are one of the most famous brothers in football. They’ve played each other multiple times in club games, but created history at the FIFA World Cup in 2010: the Boatengs became the first brothers to play against each other in the tournament.
While the latter represents Ghana, where the pair’s father is from, the Bayern centre-back pledged allegiance to the country of his birth. And he wouldn’t regret one bit, considering he’s lifted the most prestigious prize available, the World Cup, with the Die Mannschaft in 2014.
With over 70 caps under his belt, Boateng was an important figure in Joachim Loew’s set-up for the last decade but has been in an international exile since October 2018 after the manager revealed he, along with Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels, won’t be called up to the national squad again.
Left-back: Benjamin Henrichs (Germany/AS Monaco)
Another defender of Ghanian origin representing Germany, Henrichs is one of the young colts which Loew has blooded into the national side in recent times.
Growing up, he idolized former Ghana and Chelsea great Michael Essien, but chose to represent his country of birth as he revealed Die Mannschaft were the first to approach him when he was still a teenager.
Henrichs was called up to the national side for the first time in November 2016, making his debut in the 8-0 thumping of San Marino. However, he’s featured for Germany only twice since and was also dropped from Loew’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup.
He’s a talented young gun who’s shown great promise with Bayer Leverkusen and AS Monaco already, and with neither Jonas Hector nor Marcel Halstenberg particularly nailing down the left-back spot, the 23-year old is going to get more chances to establish himself.
Right midfielder: Callum Hudson-Odoi (England/Chelsea)
Widely regarded as one of the best young players at Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi has represented England at every age group from under-16 right up to under-21, even making his senior debut along the way in March 2019, making him the youngest ever to play for the Three Lions at 18 years and 135 days.
Born in Greater London, Hudson-Odoi is the son of former Ghana international midfielder Bismark Odoi and has an older brother, Bradley Hudson-Odoi, who once played for the youth team of the Black Stars.
Still only 19, he’s highly rated and has already been pursued by Bayern Munich twice in his short career, a testament to his talents. With the versatility to play on the right side of the midfield as well as attack, he’s set to be an important part of England’s squad for the next decade.
Central midfielder: Alexander Tettey (Norway/Norwich City)
Unlike many players on this list, Tettey was born in Ghana. He even lived in the capital city of Accra, his native place, for 10 years before moving to Norway in 1999 where he started his football career.
He made his professional debut with Rosenborg in 2003 at the age of 17 and another year later, started his international career with Norway’s youth sides. He featured prominently for the U-18s, U19s, and U-21s, before finally breaking into the senior side in 2007.
Despite making regular appearances with club sides, especially Rennes and Norwich City, Tettey’s career with the Lions never really took off as he earned only 34 caps in 10 years and never got the chance to play in any international tournament.
Left midfielder: Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool)
Probably the most in-form player on this list is Wijnaldum, who only recently lifted the Premier League title with Liverpool, adding to his Champions League and Club World Cup medals.
While his time with the Netherlands football team hasn’t been so glorious, the 29-year old midfielder could’ve been pivotal to the Black Stars given their struggles in the centre of the park.
Wijnaldum, however, never received an invitation. After his parents separated, he moved to the Netherlands with his mother at a very young age, before eventually switching to her last name.
He broke into the Dutch senior side in 2011 and ever since, has made 62 appearances, netting 18 times, whilst also being instrumental in the team’s qualifying phase for the Euros.
Right-winger: Inaki Williams (Spain/Athletic Bilbao)
They say it’s better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. However, the Athletic Bilbao striker is unbeknown to the idiom.
Despite the intense competition for places in Spain’s squad, he opted against playing for the country of his parents’ nationality and his international career has now run into a stonewall.
Williams made numerous appearances for La Roja’s U-17s, before receiving his first call-up to the senior side in May 2016. That, however, remains his only appearance for them to date. He was ostracised from Vicente del Bosque's 23-man squad for the Euros that year, and never saw the light of the day again.
At 26 though, he still has enough time to turn it around. Williams has never been the most prolific goalscorer, but his aerial prowess and physical strength can be valuable assets.
His incredible fitness can be gauged from the staggering 152 consecutive appearances he’s made in La Liga, not missing a single league game since January 2016!
Left-winger: Memphis Depay (Netherlands/Olympique Lyon)
After his disastrous spell with Manchester United, Depay joined Lyon in January 2017 and has successfully resurrected his career since. He’s netted 43 goals from 102 appearances in the Ligue 1, most famously finishing as the league’s third-best scorer in 2018.
In the meantime, his rich vein of form has also transcended on the international front as Depay guided the Oranje to the UEFA Nations League finals last year, whilst also playing a key role in securing a return to the Euros. However, he too was eligible to play for the Black Stars.
His father was from Ghana, but the reported neglect of a young Memphis after he parted ways with his mother led the striker to shun the opportunity to represent the African nation. Depay rose through the ranks in Netherlands’ youth sides, before breaking into the first team in 2013.
Striker: Mario Balotelli (Italy/Brescia)
Former England and Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck is also of Ghanian descent and could’ve been a nice inclusion on this list, but it just seemed impossible to leave out the enigma that is Mario Balotelli.
Once controversy’s favourite child, the cantankerous centre-forward never reached the potential he was touted to, but back in the day, Balotelli was one of the best young players in the circuit.
In 2007, he turned down then-Ghanian coach Claude Le Roy’s invitation to feature for the Black Stars. Soon after, he was issued the Italian citizenship and set sail with the Azzurri, whom he represented at the Euro 2012 and then the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
His consistent on and off-field antics, however, derailed the striker’s club as well as international career, and he even recently got relegated with Serie A side Brescia. Ghana got no regrets of missing out on him, do they?
