Razak Simpson's first call-up to the Black Stars has been praised by Kassim Mingle Ocansey, head coach of Nations Football Club, who said it was long overdue and well-deserved.

A standout player in the Ghana Premier League and a central defender, Simpson has earned a place on Otto Addo's 25-man roster for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches. Mingle highlighted Simpson's outstanding league play as he expressed his pleasure over the pick.

“Razak Simpson absolutely deserves this. His call-up to the Black Stars should have come sooner,” Mingle remarked.

He also emphasized the club’s readiness, noting, “We are building a strong team, so if any player is unavailable, we’ll have capable replacements.”

As one of only three players from the Ghana Premier League chosen for the qualifiers against Angola and Niger, Simpson joined the Black Stars camp on Monday and completed his first training session at Accra Sports Stadium.

Before leaving for Luanda on Wednesday, the team will continue its workout today. Despite a difficult start to their campaign, Ghana hopes to guarantee a place in the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.

On November 15, the Black Stars will play Angola at Estádio 11 de Novembro. Three days later, they will play Niger Republic at home. With two points from four games, the Black Stars are now in third place in Group F, behind Sudan and Angola.