Italian-based Ghanaian midfielder Alfred Duncan has announced his retirement from the senior national team, the Black Stars, at the age of 29.
The Fiorentina midfielder was once again not called for Ghana’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with his last outing for the Black Stars coming in 2020 against South Africa.
The hardworking midfielder on Saturday announced his decision to quit the Black Stars in an emotional letter posted by his club, Fiorentina, on social media.
In the said letter, Duncan said that he had always wanted to make history with the Black Stars, but was never given the chance to prove it.
He noted that neglect from the Black Stars made things mentally difficult for him as he was often humiliated, discriminated against, and set aside for years even though his door was open for call ups.
The letter added: “Unfortunately, I can’t continue to be sick thinking about how I’m treated unfairly knowing I have a clean conscience. Until a few years ago I was the Ghanaian player with the best performances and with the most appearances in the most prestigious leagues, but I have never been considered for the national team.
“I recently turned down some invitations because I find it an insult to call me when it suits someone without considering my feeling as a human being who makes sacrifices in their work.
”Years ago, when I was a Sassuolo player, I had a psychological trauma after travelling 15 hours to Washington for a friendly against Canada and then not play even a minute and I was the only player not to set foot on the field.
“It was a very difficult period for me and my family but thanks to my loved ones and the support of a psychologist I was able to overcome this too. I went through so many horrible moments precisely because of the national team, I overcame everything by myself and went on my way. I found peace and happiness without thinking of being called up for the national team with the sole objective of giving the best to those who support me, consider me an important player and value me.
“For a player like me who has done a lot of training and has been playing in Serie A for 11 years, it’s incredible to have only nine caps for the national team. A pure madness that has no justification.
I do not accept being called up just because the Federation is pressured by the citizens and not because they recognize my value and what I can give to the national team. “The President of the Ghanaian federation,
Kwesi Appiah, Avram Grant and CK Akonnor know perfectly well what I mean and how they treated me. For the person that I am, I do not deserve everything they put me through and, for this reason, I put an end to a story that never began to have the peace and serenity that I deserve and to be able to continue working for Fiorentina, the team that I values and respects me for who I am and the passion that I put into my daily work, Thank you!”
