Augustine Okrah says he rejected Black Stars call-up due to injury
Bechem United forward Augustine Okrah, has explained why he did not join the Black Stars squad for the Kirin Cup in Japan.
Okrah, who was dropped from the Black Stars ahead of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Central African Republic, declined a second invitation to the four-nation tournament.
After posting a cryptic message on his official Twitter page which read: “There is more to life”, along with a picture on himself in action for Bechem United, Okrah claims he injured himself while playing for Bechem United against Aduana Stars last Sunday.
The former Kotoko target man scored the Hunters’ goal in the 1-0 victory, bringing his season total to 14 goals.
“I was called [for the Black Stars trip to Japan] but I made them aware that I was not feeling well and I can’t go and disgrace myself because as a player, if you’re not fit and you go and perform badly, you might not be called again. So I let them know I am not fully fit and so I cannot report to camp,” Okrah said in an interview.
Bechem United CEO Kingsley Osei Bonsu, confirmed the development saying, “I spoke to Okrah to go but he says he won’t play and is not ready to go.”
Okrah was one of two Ghana Premier League players including Hearts of Oak’s, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, named in Otto Addo’s initial 33-man squad for the four games.
Ghana will face Japan on June 10, before facing either Chile or Tunisia days later.
