In a significant development for Ghana’s national football team, Black Stars captain Andre Ayew has been omitted from Coach Otto Addo’s 26-man squad set to compete in crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) next month.
Coach Addo, during a press briefing where he unveiled the squad, revealed that he had a heartfelt discussion with Ayew regarding the decision.
However, he opted not to disclose the specifics of their conversation publicly.
“I had a long chat with Andre and explained to him the reasons behind his exclusion from the squad,” stated Otto Addo. “As a coach, I prefer to have direct conversations with my players rather than sharing private discussions in public.”
Otto Addo acknowledged that dropping Ayew, a seasoned player and record appearance holder for Ghana, was an immensely challenging choice.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that the decision was made in the best interest of the team’s overall strategy and performance.
The announcement was made during a Meet The Press event held at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Headquarters, where Addo introduced the latest call-ups to the national squad.
The exclusion of Ayew marks a significant shift in the team composition, highlighting Otto Addo’s commitment to making tough decisions aimed at enhancing the Black Stars’ performance and success in upcoming World Cup qualifiers.