Hopes were high when Ibrahim Sulemana emerged as a promising talent. The combative midfielder started both matches during the November international break for the Black Stars in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
A month earlier, he had also started two games against Sudan, earning particular praise for his performance at home.
Unfortunately, Sulemana missed the recent World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar due to injury.
His limited playing time this season further complicates his chances of securing a spot in the national team when all players are fit.
With just two months left in the season, Sulemana has played only six games for Atalanta, starting just once and accumulating a mere 146 minutes - a concerning figure for a young midfielder still honing his craft.
Sulemana's career trajectory initially showed promise. After progressing through Hellas Verona's U19 team, he joined their senior side for one season, featuring in 16 Serie A games and amassing 651 minutes.
He then moved to Cagliari, where he doubled his playing time to 1,339 minutes in Serie A, scored two goals, and helped the club avoid relegation.
However, his move to title-chasing Atalanta appears to have been a step too far, as he now competes with established players like Mario Pasalic, Ederson, and Marten de Roon.
Despite limited opportunities this season, Sulemana has shown glimpses of quality. His passing accuracy stands at an impressive 88.3%, and he has completed more final-third passes than 12 other Atalanta players.
However, his underlying numbers have declined since his debut professional season at Hellas Verona, where he excelled defensively, ranking in the 80th percentile for aerial duels won, 87th percentile for possession regained, and 76th percentile for defensive actions.
At just 21 years old, Sulemana still has time to develop his skills, but these years are crucial for shaping his game intelligence and consistency.
A potential transfer or increased playing time at Atalanta could provide him with the stability he needs to grow.
With Ederson linked to moves abroad this summer, there might be an opening for Sulemana; however, Atalanta could also choose to strengthen their midfield further.
On a personal level, Sulemana needs certainty and assurance when it comes to game time, especially looking at the competition for places in the midfield of the Black Stars.
Ghana's midfield competition is fierce. Otto Addo has options like Thomas Partey, Majeed Ashimeru, Elisha Owusu, Francis Abu, Forson Amankwah, Lawrence Agyekum, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, and Ernest Nuamah vying for just two starting spots.
For Sulemana to secure a place in Ghana's squad for the 2026 World Cup, next season must be transformative - he needs regular game time to prove himself worthy of national team selection.
The Black Star Watch is a compelling weekly column written by Owuraku Ampofo, a seasoned sports journalist with over five years of experience reporting on Ghanaian players. This column aims to uncover patterns, address pressing questions, and illuminate trending topics surrounding Ghanaian footballers.
