Ghanaian Sports Journalist Builds Strong Statistical Case for Nicholas Opoku’s Black Stars Recall
Ghanaian sports journalist Michael Akomeah has made a compelling, data-backed case for the return of Kasimpasa defender Nicholas Opoku to the Black Stars squad ahead of the March international friendlies and Ghana’s ongoing preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Wontumi TV sports journalist argued on their Sports show, Sports Buffet that the injury-enforced absence of Mohammed Salisu, who is sidelined with an ACL injury, presents a timely opportunity for the Black Stars technical team to reassess its defensive options.
In his view, Opoku’s consistency and reliability in the Turkish Super Lig make him one of the most logical replacements.
“Now that Salisu is out and we’re looking for replacements, when I cast my net wide, though other players are available, including Ambrosius, I think we should take a second look at Nicholas Opoku,” Akomeah stated.
His advocacy is rooted not in sentiment but in performance metrics and experience, noting that Opoku has previously featured for the national team and continues to deliver at a high level in one of Europe’s competitive leagues.
A comparison of key defensive statistics this season underlines Akomeah’s argument. Nicholas Opoku is the only defender among his Ghanaian peers to have started all 20 league matches for his club, completing the full 90 minutes in each appearance.
His total of 1,800 minutes played places him comfortably ahead of others such as Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Alexander Djiku and Kojo Oppong, highlighting both his fitness and dependability.
Defensively, Opoku has been particularly dominant in his primary duties. He leads the group in clearances per game with an average of 7.1, a clear indication of his effectiveness in dealing with sustained pressure. He also ranks highly in ball recoveries, averaging 4.8 per game, second only to Jonas Adjetey (5.7), showing his ability to read danger and regain possession for his team.
While not the most aggressive tackler statistically, Opoku’s average of 1.3 tackles per game keeps him competitive within the group, especially when viewed alongside his positional discipline and aerial presence.
On the ball, he has also proven to be secure and reliable, posting a pass accuracy of 90 percent, the second-best among the defenders compared, reinforcing his suitability for a national team that seeks composure in build-up play.
For Akomeah, these numbers collectively paint the picture of a defender who is not only consistent but also excelling in the fundamentals required at international level.
“When you look at the minutes, the clearances, the recovery rate and even his passing, it’s clear he’s doing the job week in, week out. This is not about preference; it’s about performance,” he added.
With Ghana set to face Austria and Germany in March as part of their World Cup preparations, the debate over defensive reinforcements is expected to intensify. Nicholas Opoku’s sustained form in Turkey, backed by strong statistical evidence, may yet force the Black Stars technical team to give serious consideration to a recall many now believe is overdue.