Ghana captain Andre Ayew has been excluded from the squad for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Mali and the Central African Republic, as confirmed by coach Otto Addo on Wednesday.

This decision is surprising given Ayew’s strong finish to the recent season, where he scored six goals to help Le Havre secure promotion to the French Ligue 1. A staple in the national team since his debut in 2007, Ayew has faced increasing criticism for his performances in recent times, particularly following Ghana’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite the criticism, Addo included Ayew in the squad for the March friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda, indicating a previous willingness to continue working with the experienced skipper. However, Ayew’s omission from the current squad suggests a potential shift in Addo’s strategy, possibly indicating that Ayew may not feature in the national team’s future plans.

Ayew’s recent club form contrasts with his national team performances, having struggled at Nottingham Forest before finding success at Le Havre. His exclusion from the squad is therefore seen as a bold move by Addo, who may be looking to rejuvenate the team by giving younger players like Mohammed Kudus more responsibility.

Ayew, who holds a record 120 appearances and 24 goals for Ghana, will not participate in the upcoming qualifiers. The Black Stars will begin their training camp on Thursday at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon, aiming to regain their winning form after recording one win and one loss in their first two matches in Group I of the World Cup qualifiers.

Ghana will face Mali at Stade 26 Mars in Bamako on Thursday, June 6, 2024, and then play the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Monday, June 10, 2024.

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