Alfred Duncan with former coach of the Black Stars Avram Grant
Former Black Stars midfielder Alfred Duncan has revealed the reason behind the abrupt and premature end of his international career.
Amid Duncan’s consistent exclusion from the Black Stars squad, his then-club Fiorentina released a statement in May 2022 on his behalf, announcing his decision to retire from the national team.
In the statement, Duncan expressed his disappointment with the treatment he received over the years from the Ghana Football Association.
Speaking to Sporty FM, Duncan explained how repeated snubs by various Black Stars coaches at the peak of his career led him to step away from the team.
“With the national team, it’s kind of complicated. It was my decision to quit because I wasn’t getting the respect I felt I deserved. As a player, when I reach the peak of my career, I expect more respect, but I wasn’t receiving enough. So, I thought it was best to part ways and allow those they believe are right for the team to get the chance to play,” he said.
Nonetheless, the Venezia midfielder emphasised that his playing time was less important than the success of the national team.
By stepping aside, he believed he was creating opportunities for players better suited to help the team achieve its goals.
“The most important thing was for the country to reach the heights it deserved, not about who had to play or who had to be on the bench. Since I wasn’t getting enough playing time, I thought it was best to step aside for the right players to play,” he added.
Duncan’s last call-up came during Ghana’s qualification campaign for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he featured in Ghana’s 2-0 win over South Africa in November 2019.
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