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Baba Rahman Is “A Viticm Of Circumstances”- Alhassan Mohammed
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Published June 3 2026
Published at: 12:35Pm
Story by Saibu Terry
The return of Black Stars defender Baba Rahman to the national team has continued to generate debate among Ghanaian football fans, with concerns centered more on the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) handling of his recall than the player himself.
RTU striker Alhassan Mohammed on his Facebook page believes Baba has become “a victim of circumstance,” arguing that his perceived close association with the GFA has contributed significantly to the criticism he faces from sections of the football fraternity.
According to Mohammed, many supporters had questioned Baba’s inclusion in previous national team call-ups before his prolonged absence from the Black Stars setup. Following a difficult outing in Kumasi several years ago, the defender remained away from the national team for nearly four years.
His sudden reappearance in Ghana’s World Cup squad, Mohammed argues, caught many fans by surprise and reinforced an existing perception that Baba enjoys preferential treatment from football authorities.
He contends that the GFA could have better managed the player’s return by adequately preparing supporters through official communication and engagement before announcing his inclusion in the squad.
The situation was further complicated by the omission of Derrick Köhn, a player who had recently earned praise from supporters following impressive performances in international friendlies. The decision inevitably placed Baba under intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike.
Mohammed maintains that efforts to justify Baba’s inclusion through statistics and past performances were unlikely to convince critics. Instead, he suggested that the defender’s best response would be to prove doubters wrong on the pitch through strong performances.
However, Baba’s recent outing failed to ease concerns after he was beaten in a move that eventually led to a goal. While such incidents are common in football, Mohammed noted that the circumstances surrounding the player’s return meant that any mistake would attract heightened criticism.
”The reality is that Baba is now under enormous pressure,” he stated, adding that the defender’s confidence could suffer if he is not mentally strong enough to cope with the criticism.
Despite the backlash, Mohammed rejected claims that the criticism is motivated by Baba’s northern Ghanaian roots or his Muslim faith. He pointed out that several northern and Muslim players, including Mohammed Kudus, receive widespread praise whenever they perform well for the national team.
Rather, he believes the criticism stems from widespread dissatisfaction with the football administration, with Baba unfortunately being viewed by some supporters as an extension of the GFA.
”Many of the attacks directed at Baba are actually aimed at the FA,” Mohammed argued. “Hurting Baba is seen by some as indirectly hurting the FA.”
He concluded by expressing sympathy for the defender and wished him well as he navigates what he described as a challenging period in his football career.
”As always, that’s football for you—very unpredictable,” he remarked.
