Andre Ayew’s exclusion from the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers has been justified, according to Ghana’s head coach Otto Addo.
The skipper, who plays for Le Havre, has been left out of the 26-man squad set to face Mali and the Central African Republic.
At a press conference on Wednesday at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) headquarters, Addo stated,
“I spoke with Andre for a long time and gave him the explanations for his absence from the team. I prefer not to dwell on players who aren’t included,” stated the 43-year-old coach.
Recognizing Ayew’s important contributions to the national team, Addo called the choice difficult.
“It wasn’t an easy choice, but I felt it necessary to explain it to him. While Andre is a living legend, prioritizing the team’s best interests was paramount,” he added.
The Black Stars’ next scheduled match is against Mali on June 6, 2024, in Bamako. Four days later, they will host the Central African Republic at Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Following Asamoah Gyan’s retirement as captain, Andre Ayew has led the Black Stars and represented Ghana in three world cups.
