Baba Rahman Prioritizes Fitness Before Rejoining Ghana Squad

Baba Rahman, a defender for Greek club PAOK, has committed to representing Ghana once more, but states he will rejoin the national team only when he is fully prepared. He has been a consistent presence for PAOK this season, following 44 appearances across all competitions last season. The 30-year-old’s last appearance for the Black Stars was in September last year, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against the Central African Republic in Kumasi, where he faced jeers from sections of the crowd. However, Rahman, whose club career is based in Greece, emphasizes that his current unavailability is due to his focus on physical well-being, not a reaction to the reception he received on that occasion. The left-back informed BBC Sport Africa, stating: “It’s a personal decision to take a break (from Ghana) to concentrate on my fitness because I’ve not had a great time with injuries.” He added, “When I joined PAOK last year, I just thought it was wise to stay away a bit from international football to get my fitness back.” From January 2017 to September 2020, the left-back endured a challenging period, spending a cumulative 999 days out of action due to a succession of severe injuries, including two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. He subsequently participated in the 2021 Afcon and 2022 Fifa World Cup tournaments, both of which concluded with Ghana’s elimination at the group stage. Rahman further stated: “Fans are asking me all the time to come back to play for Ghana but I think I need to take care of my health before everything right now.” He continued, “People know about my injury history and it has really been a difficult few years. I just want to enjoy my club football again and then I know my international career will take off again too.” Rahman, who started two of Ghana’s three group matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, asserts that his bond with the Black Stars and their fanbase remains robust. He confirms his unwavering support for the national team in their crucial upcoming 2025 Afcon qualifiers against Angola and Niger. He commented: “I watch every Ghana game from minute one until the final whistle.” Rahman added, “Even before the line-up comes up I am checking all the time how preparations are going. I speak to some of the guys also in the camp.” Nevertheless, the four-time continental champions require favorable outcomes in other Group F matches to secure their place in the finals in Morocco next year; they face elimination if Sudan earns a single point from their two outstanding fixtures. While several injury-related withdrawals have further hampered Ghana’s prospects, Rahman maintains a positive outlook on their future. Rahman stated: “I honestly think the guys have been a bit unlucky recently.” He continued, “We have some really, really exciting young players in terms of what they can do on the ball and off the ball. We have good prospects too.” He concluded, “I still have confidence in them.” The Black Stars are performing more strongly in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, currently sharing the top spot in Group I with Comoros after four matches. Having participated in the Qatar tournament two years prior, Rahman expresses optimism about reaching the 2026 finals, which will be hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He remarked: “Of course I think about playing in another World Cup and I think Ghana is on the right path to qualify.” Rahman added, “At the moment I’m just concentrating on getting healthy, getting as many games in my legs as possible for PAOK. Then I’ll see what happens in the future.” Rahman has been showcasing some of the finest form of his career with PAOK, contributing six goals and four assists across all competitions last season, a period during which his team secured the Greek Super League title and reached the Uefa Conference League quarter-finals. In the ongoing campaign, he has already netted five goals in 18 appearances, a performance level that has garnered attention from Premier League clubs. West Ham and Everton are reportedly among the clubs monitoring him in anticipation of the January transfer window. The defender recently played against Manchester United in the Europa League last week, an appearance at Old Trafford that carried particular significance despite a 2-0 loss. This match symbolized a return to the high-profile stage Rahman had aspired to frequent when he transferred to Chelsea from Augsburg in 2015. Rahman stated: “These big games in the big stadiums, they make you who you are and show your quality to the world.” He added, “I’ve competed in many big stadiums in the world and love having this opportunity.” Rahman’s last competitive match for Chelsea occurred in a Premier League fixture in May 2016, though he remained with the club until 2023. During his eight years at Stamford Bridge, he made only 23 first-team appearances for the Blues, a period marked by numerous loan spells and recurring injuries. He reflected: “I am sad things didn’t work out at Chelsea.” Rahman explained, “I just had so many bad injuries whilst I was there, and because I wasn’t 100% fit I wasn’t able to give my absolute best.” The Ghanaian player identified the “incredible” Eden Hazard as the finest player he has shared the pitch with, yet credits a member of Chelsea’s backroom staff with having the most significant influence on his professional journey. He disclosed: “I owe them a lot because it was Dr Paco [Biosca, ex-Chelsea medical director] who convinced me not to retire after my second ACL injury.” Rahman nearly retired from football in 2019 after sustaining that injury, having only just recovered from a separate severe knee injury the preceding year. He recalled: “It had taken me 18 months to come back and when the doctor told me I had another ACL injury I decided that I had had enough.” Rahman added, “I told my family I was quitting.” “But Dr Paco said that he had seen other players come back and promised that if I was patient and mentally strong that I could do it too. I slept on it and then decided I wanted to fight for my career,” he explained. He concluded, “I am grateful that football has given me a second chance. I’m just trying to enjoy it to last moment.”