Coach Otto Addo of the Black Stars has stirred controversy with his audacious choice to restructure his team. He chose to bench experienced captain André Morgan Rami Ayew in favor of bringing in a new generation of youthful, explosive players.
Given the team’s recent transitional phase, the inclusion of young prospects like Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus was not completely surprising. However, the omission of Ayew, who had a stellar season for Le Havre in the French Ligue 1, scoring six goals in 20 games, has sparked discussion about the coach’s unexpected and calculated move.
It’s true that the team has been through a transition over the past two years, with new players like Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, and Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United coming to the forefront. As a result, the coach’s decision to lean on youth in his most recent 27-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) would not have created much of a stir.
His choice to exclude Ayew, who had a breakout season in club football after contributing an assist for Le Havre in the French Ligue 1 and scoring six goals in 20 games across all competitions, raised eyebrows and caused controversy.
In response to this divisive decision, Addo emphasized that Ayew, 34,’s exclusion did not signal the end of his
acknowledges the veteran’s noteworthy services to the national team during his 17-year career, which has seen him make a record 120 appearances for Ghana since making his debut in August 2007.
The decision marks a departure from the traditional reliance on experience to guide young players, reflecting the coach’s vision for the team’s future as he embarks on a second stint as national coach under a 34-month contract.
