Dewa United left-back Altalariq Erfa Aqsal Ballah faces a critical international choice at age 25, receiving a call-up from the Liberia national team for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers while maintaining his desire to represent Indonesia, according to reports from detikSport.
- Squad Rotation: Alta Ballah’s potential international travel or dual-federation situation could impact Dewa United.
- Market Valuation: Receiving a senior international call-up elevates the 25-year-old defender’s profile.
- Fantasy Value: As a player logging nine appearances in the 2026/27 campaign, his contributions remain steady assets barring international absence.
The call from the Liberia Football Association stems from his lineage. Alta is the son of Anthony Jomah Ballah, a former Liberia international who earned three caps and played club football in Indonesia, as reported by Kompas. The official paperwork arrived on October 20, reviewed by the player’s management and Dewa United.
Liberia scheduled fixtures against Cape Verde in Group K of the AFCON qualifiers. The first leg takes place on November 13, 2026, with Liberia traveling away before hosting the return fixture on November 18, 2026, according to Kompas. Despite the official approach from the West African nation, the defender has yet to feature for either country at the senior level.
Indonesian football authorities indicated they lacked official notification regarding the approach. Sumardji, head of the National Team Body (BTN) and an executive committee member of PSSI, stated on November 9, 2026, that the federation had not received paperwork concerning the Dewa United defender.
Sampai detik ini, kami dari federasi, saya dari BTN belum dapat informasi. Ini baru dapat info dari teman-teman,
Sumardji said, as reported by detikSport and CNN Indonesia, noting he learned of the development through media channels.
Born and raised in Tangerang with an Indonesian mother, Alta expressed his clear preference to wait for the Garuda. Untuk saat ini saya masih ingin memprioritaskan Indonesia karena kami percaya kesempatan untuk membela Timnas Indonesia masih terbuka. Saya ingin terlebih dahulu memperjuangkan kesempatan tersebut,
Alta stated in a written declaration cited by CNN Indonesia.
| Player | Current Club | Age | Previous Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Ballah | Dewa United | 25 | Persita Tangerang, Persebaya Surabaya |
| Anthony Jomah Ballah | Retired (Former Liberia International) | 47 | Various Indonesian Clubs |
Alta’s development tracks entirely through the Indonesian domestic system. After coming through local youth setups, he made his professional debut with Persita Tangerang during the 2021/22 season, according to detikSport. A subsequent stint with Persebaya Surabaya preceded his move to Dewa United ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
While the player holds a valid Indonesian passport and desires an international debut under the Red and White banner, the absence of a current call from PSSI leaves the door open for Liberia’s technical staff. As the 25-year-old weighs his international future, his immediate focus remains on maintaining his regular starting spot in the domestic league.
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