Otto Addo addresses Andre Ayew’s Black Stars blackout ahead of Angola, Niger games
Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo, has once again addressed the press regarding his decision to exclude Andre Ayew from the team ahead of the upcoming games against Angola and Niger in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The former Borussia Dortmund talent coach has decided not to call up the Le Havre attacker since the international friendlies against Uganda and Nigeria in March 2024.
After naming his squad for the final two AFCON qualifiers, Addo was asked about Ayew and whether he has moved on from him. He emphasized that the door is still open for the 34-year-old to play for Ghana.
“The doors are never closed. I look at the performance,” he responded when pressed on Andre Ayew, after initially stating he wouldn’t discuss the situation again.
What Otto Addo said about Ayew’s first omission
Andre Ayew was first dropped from the Black Stars squad for the June 2024 qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which included matches against Mali and the Central African Republic.
Otto Addo mentioned during the squad announcement in May that he had traveled to France to speak with Ayew about why he wasn’t called up for the two games, though Ayew did not accept his reasoning.
“I had a long chat with Andre and gave him the reason why he is not in the squad,” he said.
“I talk to players directly and I don’t like to put information out about what we spoke about.
“This is the decision we took and it’s not like he necessarily agreed, but I still have big respect for him.”
Games Andre Ayew has not played so far
World Cup qualifiers
Mali 1-2 Ghana – June 5, 2024
Ghana 4-3 Central African Republic – June 9, 2024
AFCON qualifiers
Ghana 0-1 Angola – September 5, 2024
Niger 1-1 Ghana – September 9, 2024
Ghana 0-0 Sudan – October 10, 2024
Sudan 2-0 Ghana – October 15, 2024