The Press Secretary to the Minister for Education [Haruna Iddrisu], Hashmin Mohammed, has slammed critics and cautioned against early criticism of Black Stars defender Baba Rahman following his brief appearance in a recent match, arguing that players should not be judged based on isolated incidents.

According to him, footballers introduced into a game typically require a few minutes to settle in, adjust to the tempo, and find their rhythm, making immediate assessments unfair.

“Anyone who has played or closely followed football understands that when a player is introduced into a game, the first three to five minutes are often used to settle in, adjust to the tempo, and find rhythm,” he said.

Baba Rahman was given barely five minutes of playing time, during which his first challenge did not go as planned, leading to a goal. This has since triggered criticism suggesting the defender is rusty.

However, Hashmin Mohammed questioned the fairness of such conclusions, insisting that serious football analysis must be rooted in context, balance, and objectivity.

“Serious football analysis requires context, balance, and objectivity. Judging a player’s quality or readiness based on a single incident within a few minutes of entering a game is neither professional nor credible,” he stated.

He further criticised what he described as a growing trend among some sports bloggers and commentators who rush to conclusions rather than offering measured analysis.

“Unfortunately, some sports bloggers and commentators rush to conclusions instead of offering measured analysis,” he noted.

Hashmin Mohammed also drew parallels with past criticisms of André “Dede” Ayew, noting that the midfielder has previously faced calls for exclusion from the Black Stars despite his experience and long-standing contributions to the national team.

“It is the same approach that saw many unfairly criticize and call for the exclusion of Dede Ayew from the Black Stars, despite his immense contributions and experience,” he added.

He emphasised that football is a game of moments, but players must ultimately be assessed over sustained performances rather than isolated incidents that do not reflect their overall ability.

“Football is a game of moments, but players should be evaluated over sustained performances, not isolated incidents,” he concluded.