Former Ghana international Johnson Eklu has urged current Black Stars players to rekindle the determination that once defined the national team.

Reflecting on his time with Ghana's U-17 squad, which reached the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals, Eklu emphasized the importance of playing with purpose. Ghana fell to Brazil 2-1 in the final, but Eklu’s goal against Bahrain remains a proud memory.

Speaking on the Ernest Brew Smith Show, Eklu lamented the current state of the Black Stars, who failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON. “It’s not about the name on the back of your jersey,” he remarked. “When we played, it was about making our families and nation proud.”

Eklu expressed concern over modern players prioritizing wealth over national pride. “The joy of signing big contracts is killing the hunger to fight for the nation,” he said. “During our time, we had the drive to win and not for money.. but for legacy.”