Former Ghana Premier League coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu believes Andre Ayew should not be part of the Ghana national football team squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Osei-Fosu’s comments come after Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, said he would not be surprised if Ayew was included in the squad for the tournament in June.
The assistant coach of the Sudan national football team, however, feels the experienced forward should step aside to allow younger players a chance in the team.
“He might be a very, very good player,” he said. “But you ask yourself in this current setup, is he needed?”
“Is he needed? For me, no. Dede is my man, but for me, you leave when the applause is high.
“Dede himself should let it go and then focus on his club football,” he added.
Ayew, who joined NAC Breda as a free agent in January, recently scored in a 3–3 Eredivisie draw against Feyenoord.
At 34, Ayew remains one of Ghana’s most experienced players and has represented the Black Stars at four World Cups. He has not yet officially retired from international football.
Osei-Fosu said decisions about the national team should focus on the current needs of the squad rather than past achievements.
He pointed to Italian legend Francesco Totti as an example of a player who stepped away from international duty to concentrate on club football.
“That’s why I like these white people. At one point, Totti was called up to the national team, but he said, ‘No, I want to focus on club football,’” he added.
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is expected to announce the final squad for the World Cup on June 1.
By: Pascal Amoah
